David Harper founded Land In Common as a consulting practice to assist landowners, land trusts and community organizations in establishing a network of common lands available for affordable, community-based sustainable agriculture, forestry, and ecological housing.  David’s experience was earned with 18 years working for leading conservation organizations such as the Brandywine Conservancy (PA) and Natural Lands Trust (PA), and with 8 years as a municipal planning commission member. He also currently works with Unique Places, a conservation real estate company assisting landowners with innovative conservation strategies. David teaches a course in Conservation and Land Management in the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Environmental Studies program.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Ecological Planning from Penn, and an undergraduate degree in Political Science and City and Regional Planning from the University of California at Berkeley. David is also a founding board member of the Susquehanna Sustainable Business Network in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a board member of the School of Living, a community land trust, and is a resident of Durham, North Carolina.

Courses Taught

• ENVS 604 Conservation and Land Management
  Using protected lands in the Delaware Valley, this field-based course will explore various strategies for open-space conservation and protection. In addition, students will be introduced to land management techniques used on such sites to restore or preserve them in accordance with goals set for their use or protection. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills in "Reading the Landscape" to determine conservation and restoration priorities. Students will produce a site assessment report and/or field reports on sites that they visit.