Growing up on a farm in north central Minnesota, I developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the natural world. I did a long stint with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources where I learned the difference between managing natural resources and protecting land, maintaining biodiversity and building partnerships. Successful conservation requires active involvement from residents and businesses, not just government.
While serving as chief operations officer for the Mustique Company in the West Indies, I discovered that effective conservation requires a 100-year vision and plan.
I then moved to Mozambique, Africa where I served as chief executive officer for Cabo Delgado Investment and worked on conservation and community integration.
Fast forward to my current role as executive director for the Lake County Forest Preserves. Why here? Because it is the perfect place to foster partnerships for shared success in conservation. In a county of more than 700,000 residents, there’s an opportunity to connect with everyone and build a collective vision for preserving our natural resources.
Why is protecting land important?
Protected land, or high-quality open space, offsets the impact of developed areas by providing essential ecosystem services. These services include carbon sequestration, flood reduction, clean air and water, and groundwater recharge, all of which contribute to a healthy landscape and high quality of life.
Additionally, open space offers recreational and educational benefits, attracting people to live and work in Lake County. Our efforts ensure access to nature and maintain biodiversity, which is invaluable for future generations.
Why are partnerships so important for conservation?
While non-profits do great work in conservation, government is the primary landowner and manager. Effective conservation depends on large, continuous tracts of undeveloped land. Government lacks the resources to manage all open spaces alone. With the growing impact of climate change, maintaining a healthy, sustainable landscape is crucial. We can't rely solely on government; everyone needs to understand, trust and get involved. Forming partnerships for conservation is crucial, as our future depends on it. Learn more about what we do in this video, and click here to see how businesses help support our mission and sustain local resources.
