Markos Major, Climate Action Now! Founding Director

Markos is a seasoned restoration ecologist, environmental educator, and human right’s advocate. His efforts have focused on the cultivation of diverse systems (both social and environmental) that support biodiversity, cultural diversity, and ecological resilience.

Markos created Climate Action Now! to connect the dots between public schools, local government, and ecosystems services.  Having spent the last 13 years working for City agencies and local environmental organizations, including the SF Zoo, SF Department of the Environment, SF Public Works Bureau of Urban Forestry, SF Botanical Garden and the SF Unified School District, Markos has created an organization that addresses needs not currently met by other agencies.

A graduate from UC Santa Cruz in Environmental and Community Studies, Markos also hold certificates in Ecological Horticulture from the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Foods System (CASFS) and a certificate in Cultural Landscape Preservation from UC Berkeley Extension.

Walter Yaya

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Walter is an avid gardener.  His passion for environmental and ecological justice derives from community-oriented values forged by his parents. After moving to the US, Walter’s path to gardening started at City College of San Francisco, where his love for justice and nature led him to switch his career from accounting to horticulture.  After successfully completing the Climate Action Now! Bio-Diverse City Summer 2021 internship, Walter is now leading community tree plantings from Bayview to Sunset Boulevard as CAN!’s Urban Forestry Associate.