Urban Conservation Specialist
briita.pajunas@tualatinswcd.org
(971) 295-9602
Briita’s drive and fondness for conservation work comes from her family history. Her great grandparents homesteaded along the mouth of the Columbia River – farming and fishing to make a living in the late 1800s. From an early age, she enjoyed exploring the Pacific Northwest and wanted to learn how to make these places more healthy for others to enjoy.
Briita joined the Stream Enhancement Program in 2014 and now leads the Urban Conservation Program. Through this program, she helps residents plan and implement many types of conservation projects.
She earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies focusing on Conservation Biology at Lewis and Clark College before completing a Master’s in Environmental Management from Portland State University. She has researched snapping turtles in New York, songbirds in New Hampshire, spawning salmon in Oregon, and fisheries up and down the west coast.
Briita’s love for observing wildlife is closely matched with her love for helping people conserve the land and waters within our Washington County community.