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David Festa is an expert on ecosystem resilience and has a long track record of bringing diverse stakeholders together to meet growing needs for food, water and infrastructure in ways that improve the environment and benefit the economy. As senior vice president of the Ecosystems Program, David oversees EDF’s market and policy work to: Reverse habitat loss on working lands Eliminate fertilizer pollution as a major agricultural problem Revitalize working rivers and their ability to provide resilient water supply Restore coastal ecosystems to protect communities from rising sea level and extreme weather. Prior to leading the Ecosystems program, David headed up the Oceans program, where he ignited a sea change in the way fisheries are managed by winning approval for an incentives-based system called catch shares. Today 65 percent of the fish caught in U.S. water is managed sustainably under the innovative system. David launched and still serves as president of The California Fisheries Fund, a $4 million revolving loan fund that invests in sustainable fishing. David joined EDF in 2003, and is a member of EDF’s executive team.
