Jay Westerveld (also spelled ''Westervelt'' and ''Westerveldt'') is an ecologist and researcher of habitats associated with

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

including the

Clam shrimp Clam shrimp are a group of bivalved branchiopod crustaceans that resemble the unrelated bivalved molluscs. They are extant and also known from the fossil record, from at least the Devonian period and perhaps before. They were originally classifi ...

Bog turtle The bog turtle (''Glyptemys muhlenbergii'') is a critically endangered species of semiaquatic turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the eastern United States. It was first scientifically described in 1801 after an 18th-century ...

, and the

Northern Cricket frog The northern cricket frog (''Acris crepitans'') is a species of small hylid frog native to the United States and northeastern Mexico. These frogs are majorly in grey, green, and brown color with blotching patterns. Despite being members of the t ...

. Westerveld coined the term "

greenwashing Greenwashing (a compound word modeled on "whitewash"), also called "green sheen", is a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization's products, aims ...

" and has mounted ecological preservation efforts in the state of

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Career

In 1986, Westerveld coined the term "

greenwash Greenwashing (a compound word modeled on "whitewash"), also called "green sheen", is a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization's products, aims ...

" in a 1986 essay examining practices of the hotel industry. In 2009, Westerveld claimed to discover a new population of rare

Clam Shrimp Clam shrimp are a group of bivalved branchiopod crustaceans that resemble the unrelated bivalved molluscs. They are extant and also known from the fossil record, from at least the Devonian period and perhaps before. They were originally classifi ...

; if confirmed, it would be the fourth population recorded in New York state out of approximately a dozen worldwide. He was also responsible for locating the habitat of additional members of a recently discovered species of frog. Between 2008 and 2010, Westerveld opposed construction on the

Glenmere mansion The Glenmere mansion is a luxury hotel and spa overlooking Glenmere Lake, approximately 50 miles northwest of New York City in Orange County, New York. It was built in 1911 as the residence of real estate developer Robert Wilson Goelet (not to b ...

restoration project. Westerveld writes that the

Glenmere Lake Glenmere Lake is a colonial mill pond or reservoir located in Orange County, New York, United States. It is New York State's largest habitat Northern Cricket Frog The northern cricket frog (''Acris crepitans'') is a species of small hylid frog native to the United States and northeastern Mexico. These frogs are majorly in grey, green, and brown color with blotching patterns. Despite being members of the t ...

. In 2010, the

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (informally referred to as NYSDEC, DEC, EnCon or NYSENCON) is a department of New York state government. The department guides and regulates the conservation, improvement, and protection ...

halted the construction when it became apparent that the developers were operating without the required environmental permits and paperwork. The mansion's developers were fined and cited by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation for violations of having proper paperwork in regard to the impact of construction on the endangered Northern Cricket Frog. Subsequent studies found no frog habitats on the property and the Mansion and grounds were restored.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Westerveld, Jay American environmentalists Living people 1962 births