First Annual State Director's Breakfast

Janet Coit,  Rhode Island's State Director, at Phantom Bog © Lee Alexander

30,000 acres and counting...celebrating 20 years of conservation in Rhode Island

On May 1, 2009, The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island celebrated the 20^th Anniversary of the Conservancy’s office in the State. Over fifty friends, members, and trustees joined staff for breakfast overlooking upper Narragansett Bay to celebrate the tremendous conservation accomplishments the Conservancy has had in two decades.

The “State Director Breakfast” brought people together who have played such an important role in making the Conservancy such a success in Rhode Island, and kicked off a year-long celebration focused on bringing our friends and members out to properties protected from development by the Conservancy in the state.

Austin Smith, Rhode Island Board Chairman, welcomed all and noted the urgency of conservation in today’s economic climate. “This is an historic moment for The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island. We mark a milestone at a time of great economic turmoil. While the pace of the economy has declined, the need for habitat preservation has kept right on marching ahead.”

Noting the many years of valued support and guidance of the Rhode Island trustees, Austin added, “We are here to celebrate the successes of the past 20 years and these have not happened by magic. The hard work and vision began with the efforts of the founding trustees: Robert Goddard, Bayard Ewing, Brad Boss, Senator John Chafee, Robert Kilmarx, Fred Lippitt, and Charlotte Metcalf. And there is one final trustee who remains a trustee to this day- Peggy Sharpe. Peggy is a force of nature. Any time I think something is going to be difficult, I ask myself, ‘Would Peggy think this is difficult?’”

Janet Coit, Rhode Island State Director, then welcomed all by reflecting on her first impression of The Nature Conservancy as a staff member for the late Senator John Chafee. “As a Congressional staffer, one is besieged with visitors and lobbyists and requests. When in 1989 [then] State Director Keith Lang and regional director Dennis Wolkoff came to see me with their maps and plans to protect a pristine property on Block Island, it was like a breath of fresh air. Their enthusiasm was infectious; their plans made sense. I was motivated instantly to help accomplish their tangible goals.” 

Janet reflected on how much the Conservancy has changed since that day. “We have grown from a two-person office, to 18 people. We have gone from protecting small natural heritage sites, to protecting entire watersheds, large forests and estuaries. We have closed on several hundred real estate projects, protecting over 30,000 acres of land, and 1,000 miles of shoreline on our rivers and ponds. We have matured from an organization that only buys land, to one who also promotes a variety of conservation strategies, from legislative initiatives, to restoring shellfish habitat, to supporting migratory bird research in Caribbean wintering habitats.”

When looking back over the years, and wondering what it was that made the Conservancy’s success possible, dozens of names were mentioned, from Peggy Sharpe to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. The Conservancy’s success has been a reflection of the strong conservation ethic in Rhode Island. As Janet said: “The people of this state support, and will put their resources into, protection of our land and water through public funding and private donations. In the 1980s, Rhode Islanders approved four open space bonds – always by a two to one margin. We continue that wonderful record to this day, even in bleak economic times. Last November, voters approved a bond by 67%. Every time a state open space bond goes before Rhode Islanders, every community supports that effort.”

Janet singled out praise for The Champlin Foundations. “Working with us, Champlin has funded over 270 conservation projects, putting $50 million towards conservation, and through its vision and approach, emboldened others to do more. The modest and straightforward approach taken by Champlin has been key to the long-term success of the Conservancy’s land protection efforts. And this work continues on full steam ahead.”

Turning her talk towards the future of The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island, motioned towards the marine environment out the window. “Our coasts and oceans are threatened as never before. As we look at our 400 mile coastline, shellfish beds and reefs, salt marshes and ponds, right whales and sea turtles, stripers and river herring, our emerging marine work is one area where we are growing and going strong. We are being more strategic about our land protection, beginning shellfish restoration work, and using our proven science approach in the water. And, just as our scientists have carefully assessed terrestrial habitats, we are currently completing an assessment of the marine area. It really is an exciting time!”

Janet concluded her remarks with an upbeat message about the Conservancy’s future in Rhode Island. “At this moment of reflection for the chapter, I reflect on, and notice that those qualities I admired when I first encountered The Nature Conservancy twenty years ago, carry on today. The more I have gotten to know The Nature Conservancy, the better it looks. Those first impressions – of people with guts and verve and vision, that sense I had immediately that made me want to jump on board, they have all proven true. So, I thank the wonderful and passionate and hardworking staff of The Nature Conservancy, the generous and smart trustees, the leaders, partners and supporters in this room for being part of the 20-year history of the Rhode Island Chapter. We will continue to work together now to conserve the wild and complex and beautiful natural places in Rhode Island.”