Sahara Saude

Western Sierra Field Representative

Sahara is passionate about improving the sustainability of the Sierra Nevada’s economic and environmental systems.  This stems from growing up in a small town within the region.  Due to her understanding of the region, Sahara is adept at working with diverse interest groups and negotiating solutions. She believes deeply that improving collaboration within communities is a key factor in preserving them.

Professional Experience
The mission and programs of the Sierra Business Council coincide with Sahara’s professional experiences over the past ten years. Sahara has worked in both the private and non-profits sector focusing on alternative energy, environmental sustainability, ecotourism, and land conservation.

After working for three alternative energy companies, Sahara joined Peace Corps and spent two years working on environmental education and ecotourism in Madagascar, fueling her commitment to address emerging conflicts between nature and culture.  These experiences led to her working for Wildlife Conservation Society’s Africa program and Conservation International’s Indonesia program implementing ways to meet the competing needs of land and resource management, environmental policy, and land use planning.

Sahara has also worked for NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program and currently volunteers with a local land trust in the central Sierra Nevada.

Education
After completing her undergraduate degree in English with a focus on pre-law at Sonoma State University, Sahara began traveling extensively. Wanting to learn languages and understand the places that she visited on a deeper level, Sahara has lived in Central America, Europe, Africa, and South East Asia. Sahara returned to California to pursue her Master’s degree in International Environmental Policy at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.  She completed her Masters research on climate change while living in Bali, Indonesia.

Personal Highlights
In her spare time, Sahara enjoys spending time at her family’s ranch and being outdoors.  Some of her favorite activities include: kayaking, scuba diving, hiking, running, and exploring the unique communities within the Sierra.  Sahara is an avid reader with a penchant for French literature paired with a good glass of wine.