The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Donnelle Keech

Allegany Forests Project Director

Cumberland, Maryland

Brief Biography

Based in Cumberland, Donnelle leads the Conservancy’s work in the upper Potomac River watershed and western Maryland. She works in collaboration with public land agencies and local jurisdictions to protect forests and streams.

Donnelle on Why Her Work Is Rewarding

“There’s nothing more interesting to me than the way that human beings, both as individuals and as part of a community interact with our natural world — with all of the complexities and challenges that living on planet Earth entails. I was drawn to the idea of living and working in a community, and I love being here and being able to watch those complex relationships unfold. It’s made my life feel very full and rich.”

Program Benefits

• Protecting water quality and watershed health
• Contributing to Chesapeake Bay restoration

Donnelle’s Hopes for the Next 3-5 Years

• Recognition of watershed’s positive effect on the Chesapeake Bay
• Advance resource stewardship as a component of sustainable communities

Recent Opinions and News Coverage

• Better road, cleaner streams and less cost (Cumberland Times-News) June 3, 2012
• Nature Conservancy and Maryland Environmental Trust protect 128-acre farm (news release)

Key Project Partners

• Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
• Home Ground
• Local watershed organizations
• County governments

Credentials

• M.S., Applied Ecology, School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University
• B.S., Anthropology and Biology, New York University
   

 

Donnelle Keech

Allegany Forests Project Director

Read Donnelle Keech's Full Biography

Read Donnelle Keech's Full Biography

Read Donnelle Keech's Full Biography