Helen Casendino
Helen Casendino
Environmental Analyst
Resilient Landscapes Program
Historical Ecology
Urban Nature Lab
Helen is excited to be a part of SFEI’s Resilient Landscapes program, which she joined as an Environmental Analyst in 2022. She provides critical support on various projects related to urban and historical ecology, and is passionate about nature-based solutions, multi-benefit, community-driven planning, and climate resilience.
Helen earned a B.S. in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and a minor in Quantitative Science from the University of Washington, where she researched shell-boring polychaetes in Pacific oysters, analyzed long-term subtidal sea star community dynamics in Puget Sound, and characterized freshwater macroinvertebrate communities using eDNA methods.
In her free time, Helen enjoys scuba diving in Monterey Bay and discovering new camping spots in the Pacific Northwest.
Related Projects, News, and Events
Managing Open Space in Support of Net Zero (Project)
Protecting carbon stocks and increasing carbon sequestration can support climate change mitigation and maintain healthy, resilient ecosystems. To support SFPUC managers in making informed carbon management decisions, the Alameda Watershed Carbon Assessment offers scientific guidance on the watershed’s current and potential performance as a natural climate solution. This assessment was framed by two main objectives: to quantify current carbon stocks in the Alameda Watershed, and to evaluate opportunities to enhance carbon sequestration in its vegetation and soils.