I'm a writer, researcher, oral historian, and National Geographic Explorer. I write about the environment and its entanglement with history, culture, and identity.

Noteworthy:

Fellow

2023

January

2018

September 2023, The Guardian

On the fate of Danny Garcia — tree poacher, father, former mill worker.

November 2025, National Geographic

The German forester changed America’s landscape from a Gilded Age estate

R E A D

March 2018, Aeon

On commuting from Shetland to Antarctica.

R E A D

September 2023, The Guardian

On the fate of Danny Garcia — tree poacher, father, former mill worker.

R E A D

Publication

A bold reimagining of a timeless brand.

“Bourgon puts herself in the poacher’s shoes, and the result is refreshing and compassionate…”

DAVID ENRICH, THE NEW YORK TIMES
“Supple, thoughtful prose that may remind you of Rebecca Solnit.”

PETER FISH, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
“She really… builds these almost compassionate looks at people that on one side do terrible harm, while on the other side struggle to survive while normal lines of work are disappearing.”

DEBORAH BLUM, NPR SCIENCE FRIDAY