Ari is an expert in the native and exotic plant species of the Pacific Northwest. Prior to joining the CRBC, he mapped wetlands for the City of Portland and worked with the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center to collect the seeds of rare plants from throughout the state. He has worked in habitat restoration for many years, serving as a technician, a planner, and a researcher. Ari has given back to his communities by teaching gardening to young people locally and teaching English as a second language in South Korea. He says he admires the people he’s met in the watershed for their devotion to working toward a healthy landscape.