Tony Colyer-Pendas
Assistant Editor – New York State Conservationist

I am a first-generation Cuban American who grew up outside of Miami, Florida. I went to college near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, lived in San Francisco, California for a few years, and eventually settled near Albany, New York.

Before joining the staff of the Conservationist, I worked in private land conservation. For more than 15 years, I conducted property assessments, inventorying natural resources and evaluating recreation opportunities. One evening, while driving home from work, a driver coming in the opposite direction slammed into me head-on. I sustained numerous injuries, including a shattered femur in my left leg. I was hospitalized for two months and am not as mobile as I was—I do much better on flat, level surfaces.

With outdoor excursions no longer an option, I am not able to conduct any field work and had to find different employment. With my education background in writing and graphic design, I landed at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation working on the Conservationist magazine. I am responsible for all of the content in every issue.

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