Paul Edelman has been the Chief Ecologist for both the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (a State agency) and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) since 1990. These agencies focus on resource protection and public access within a 1,000-square-mile area of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. From day one, Paul has orchestrated land acquisitions and the exactions of conservation easements from developers to ensure that there is a permanent wildlife movement corridor in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains between Griffith Park and the 20,000-acre Big Wild anchored by Topanga State Park. He is a native of the Hollywood Hills and has in depth knowledge of both its history and terrain.