Last week we said “see you later” (not goodbye) to Stewardship Director Matt Blakeley-Smith after 11+ years of dedication and excellence. Before he steps away completely, Matt will be helping us transition to a new era for our Stewardship program without him at the helm. Even after the transition, he has promised to be available to lead walks and tours of the many places he has cared for since 2013.
Greenbelt Executive Director Jessica McDonald sums up the incredible impact Matt has had on Greenbelt and conservation across the region: “Matt’s expertise and creative solutions to the complicated challenge of native habitat management has become legendary in the Valley and beyond. With Matt’s leadership Greenbelt’s stewardship program has blossomed, resulting in thousands of acres restored to highly functioning prairies, floodplain forests, and oak savannas, contributing to multiple endangered species being downlisted or delisted.
Maybe most importantly, Matt has inspired countless staff and volunteers and our community to take notice of the natural world and become caretakers of the plants and wildlife in our own backyards.”
We know Matt will continue to inspire us and we look forward to keeping him involved as a leader, an ecologist, and a friend.
Thank you, Matt!
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September 27th