Michelle Nijhuis[1] (born January 7, 1974) is an American science journalist who writes about conservation and climate change for many publications, including National Geographic and Smithsonian magazines.
[10] In her book, Beloved Beasts, published in 2021, she traces key turning points in the development of conservation biology that considers the restoration of ecological processes with an emphasis on the impact of an animal upon the ecosystem beyond the importance of an individual species.
[11] Beginning with the conservation of American bison, the book describes chronologically both well known campaigns and obscure efforts to protect animals along with key people and organizations.
[14] The movement, with roots in elite circles in North America and Europe, often overlooked the ability of people to manage the species they live alongside.
[19] The piece was published by Smithsonian and was also the recipient of the 2012 Award for Reporting on a Significant Topic, from the American Society of Journalists and Authors.