Meet the Voices of Wildlife! - Mark Staples

We are going to do a little series called “Meet the Voices of Wildlife” to introduce our members to the people lobbying for wildlife this legislative session. Up next is Mark Staples from The Nature Conservancy…

Mark Staples currently works as the external affairs manager for The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, advocating for conservation policy and public investments in nature by growing grassroots advocacy and public awareness in all three states. He manages The Nature Conservancy's public policy efforts in North Dakota.

Prior to starting joining The Nature Conservancy, Mark served in the Office of the Governor of North Dakota from 2017 to 2020. He has also served as a school board member in West Fargo Public Schools. Mark currently lives in West Fargo, not far from where he grew up on his family's farm. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard University with minors in government and energy & environment, and he is currently pursuing his master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University. Mark is an avid photographer, birder and hiker, and he is driven to support conservation for the benefit of current and future generations of North Dakotans.