The Nature Conservancy in Nevada Welcomes Matthew Rader as Amargosa River Project Manager
Rader will lead the chapter’s conservation work in the Oasis Valley
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Sara Cobble
Marketing and Communications Manager
The Nature Conservancy in Nevada
Phone: 702-737-8744 x 3142
Email: sara.cobble@tnc.org
After a competitive search, The Nature Conservancy in Nevada (TNC) has recently named Matthew Rader as its new Amargosa River Project Manager.
Rader began his work with the chapter on February 14 and will be based in Beatty, where he has resided for the past three years. Rader grew up in Pahrump and earned his degree in Biology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His breadth of work experiences and diverse skill sets made him a standout choice for the role. Most recently, Rader worked as the Restoration Biologist leading restoration of the Willow Fire site on the China Ranch Date Farm in Tecopa, California. Prior to that he worked for three years as a Forestry Technician with the Diamond Mountain Hotshots, serving as a senior lead firefighter. Among his other experiences, he has also worked with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Elko Bureau of Land Management Fire District. He also volunteered extensively with TNC in the Oasis Valley prior to being hired in his current role.
“I am sincerely excited to have Matt join our team,” said Mickey Hazelwood, Strategy Director for Protection and Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy in Nevada. “He has an inspiring passion for conservation and for preserving the biodiversity of the Amargosa River Basin, a special place that is so important for people and nature.”
The Nature Conservancy has been working to protect the Amargosa River since the 1970s, when it helped negotiate the purchase that became Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, a biodiversity hotspot that is home to the largest concentrated number of endemic species in the United States. Since then, TNC has protected more than 18,000 acres through land acquisitions and conservation easements, including the most recent purchase of the river’s headwaters at 7J Ranch Preserve in 2019.
The Nature Conservancy has been working in Nevada for 38 years and its work in the state is focused on three initiatives: Resilient Lands, Resilient Waters and Climate Action. TNC’s history of conservation accomplishments in Nevada includes protecting 5,000 acres at Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, restoring 11 miles of the Truckee River, and guiding restoration efforts to support sage-grouse and Nevada’s economy.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 76 countries and territories—37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners—we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.