University of New Mexico James "Jim" D. Proctor (December 27, 1957) is an American geographer, the author and editor of numerous books and articles, and professor of environmental studies at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon (2005-).

Following his PhD thesis on the ethics and ideology of the Pacific Northwest spotted owl debate,[2] Proctor primarily published on concepts of nature in contemporary American environmentalism.

[8] Proctor is known as a critic of many key concepts that inform contemporary American environmentalism, including nature, sustainability, and even environment—"...at least in the sense that environment is generally understood today.

[12] Proctor's publications replace these options with "counting beneath two,"[13] involving more dynamic, relational approaches to nature and environment that accept a plurality of understandings but search for deep difference.

[14] Similarly, in response to increasing polarization in the U.S., Proctor has published on environmental engagement,[15] building in part on his biography as an urban Oregonian with longstanding roots in rural Oregon.