Personal profile
Research Interests
I am a social scientist in the broad field of human dimensions of natural resources. I apply theories and methods from a variety of psychology- and sociology-related disciplines to understand and address natural resource issues while also advancing theory. I use qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, including spatial (GIS) techniques, to understand relationships between humans and the environment, and the consequences of conservation behaviors across scales. I am particularly interested in (1) using theories of social-ecological system dynamics to inform management toward desired outcomes; (2) understanding the factors which drive individual private landowner conservation decisions and behaviors (including cross-boundary realities of many natural resources) to better encourage stewardship; (3) improving the use and measurement of attitudes, beliefs, and values to inform agency and NGO decisions; and (4) helping ensure people and communities are fairly and meaningfully engaged in dialogue around natural resource decisions. I orient my research toward a variety of natural resource contexts and issues, including forest management, private land conservation, fire policy and management, invasive species control, and human-wildlife interaction.
Education/Academic qualification
Bachelor, Environmental Science, Juniata College
Doctorate, Forest Resources & Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Pennsylvania State University
Master, Forest Resources, Pennsylvania State University
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Effects of political identity activation and inaccurate metaperceptions on attitudes toward wolves
Metcalf, A. L. & Angle, J. W., Jan 6 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Conservation Biology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Influences of ecological change and social networks on conservation professionals’ and producers’ risk assessments of a vegetation transition
Legatzke, H. L., Floyd, T. M., Chaffin, B. C., Banerjee, S., Gulab, S., Hamlin, S. L., Meredith, G. R., Metcalf, A. L., Nesbitt, H. K., Sutherland-Rowen, E. S., Uden, D. R. & Allen, C. R., Mar 2026, In: Conservation Ecology. 31, 1, 41.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Scopus citations -
Private Ownership of Public Trust Wildlife Habitat in Montana, U.S.A. (2004–2023)
Metcalf, A. L., Chandler, J. W. & Birdsong, M. H., Jan 2026, In: Environmental Management. 76, 1, 36.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Governance of a landscape: The role of formal and informal organizations
Legatzke, H., Chaffin, B. C., Floyd, T. M., Banerjee, S., Church, S., Gulab, S., Hamlin, S., Meredith, G. R., Metcalf, A. L., Nesbitt, H. K., Sutherland-Rowen, E., Uden, D. R. & Allen, C. R., Apr 2025, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 380, 124974.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
4 Scopus citations -
Increasing tolerance of wolves in Montana, United States (2012–2023)
Metcalf, A. L., Metcalf, E. C., Gude, J. A., Baldridge, J. & Lewis, M. S., Dec 12 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Conservation Science and Practice. 8, 2, e70218.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Scopus citations