PROVIDENCE – Terry Sullivan has returned to a previously held position as the Rhode Island State Director for the Nature Conservancy, replacing Janet Coit who was named director of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management.
Sullivan was the organization’s state director for Rhode Island from 2001 to 2003; his new appointment began on April 11. Sullivan will head the 5,000-member organization, which has a budget of about $1.6 million and 17 full-time employees.
“My heart and passion are focused on conserving the beautiful places of Rhode Island, my home state” said Sullivan in an April 18 statement. “I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to once again lead this terrific organization forward, preserving our incredible natural areas while innovating through science and policy to restore our estuaries and oceans.”
Sullivan’s previous experience includes: director of the Trust for Public Land’s Southern New England’s programs; co-lead for the Conservancy’s North America Freshwater policy work and senior policy adviser; director of government relations for the Conservancy in Florida, leading efforts to establish Florida Forever – a 10-year, $3 billion land and water conservation program.
The Nature Conservancy said it has protected more than 30,000 acres of land in Rhode Island and has built a science-based coastal and marine program designed to restore the state’s estuaries.
I suggest that all those of us who care about or appreciate the priceless value of protected lands and shoreline in our state immediately go to:
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/rhodeisland/giving/index.htm
and make a donation to support Terry Sullivan’s return and the efforts of this important non-profit!
Full Disclosure: I have no connection with this organization, but believe that their work – like Save the Bay’s – is critical to retaining a certain quality of life in RI.