Sempervirens Fund appoints acclaimed biologist Wallace 'J.' Nichols to Science Advisory Panel

For More Information:

Reed Holderman, Executive Director  rholderman@sempervirens.org  (650) 949-1453  (510) 610-0517 cell

Scott Nichols, Communications Manager  snichols@sempervirens.org  (650) 949-1453  (650) 714-7985 cell
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 14, 2013

News Release

Sempervirens Fund appoints Packard Foundation Vice President & CFO Craig Neyman to Board of Directors, acclaimed biologist Wallace “J.” Nichols to Science Advisory Panel

Sempervirens Fund, California’s oldest land trust devoted to preserving the area’s coast redwood forests, announced this week its appointment of Craig Neyman, Vice President and CFO of The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, to its Board of Directors and Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols, acclaimed biologist and environmental advocate, to its Science Advisory Panel.

Craig Neyman brings his community relationships, knowledge of foundations, and years of experience in nonprofit finance to Sempervirens Fund.  Before working with The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Mr. Neyman served as Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at The Nature Conservancy.  Prior to this, he served as CFO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, an organization dedicated to nurturing social advocacy for low-income families.  Mr. Neyman holds a J.D. in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Oregon School of Law.

 Mr. Neyman said, “For a long time now, I have personally been inspired by the majesty of redwood forests.  Not only do these majestic forests provide a continuing sense of awe to me and other visitors that walk through their midst, but they also provide critical habitat for wildlife, help protect the water quality of the streams and rivers that run through them, and preserve the natural character of the broader ecosystem.  I have similarly been inspired by Sempervirens Fund's vision of the Great Park: an area of protected lands spanning San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties, which serves to connect existing parks and open spaces such as Big Basin, Butano and Castle Rock.   By joining the Fund's Board, I hope to assist, in some small way, the accomplishment of the Fund's vision for the benefit of current and future generations.”

Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols is an esteemed ocean scientist, conservation activist, and community organizer.  As a Research Associate at California Academy of Sciences, Dr. Nichols brings his leading edge research and scientific perspective to Sempervirens Fund’s Science Advisory Panel.  As founder and co-director of OceanRevolution.org, an international network of young ocean advocates, SEEtheWILD.org, a conservation travel network and Blue Mind Life, a global campaign to reconnect us to our water planet, Dr. Nichols also brings innovative approaches to conservation advocacy and community outreach.  Dr. Nichols earned his PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Arizona. He lives on the coast of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

“Our family has literally walked the entire California coast from Oregon to Mexico, said Dr. Nichols. We know how very fortunate we are to live on the Slow Coast, in the heart of the region Sempervirens has worked for a century to preserve. It's an honor to join the Science Advisory Panel and support efforts to sustain the vast ecological and cognitive benefits the coastal redwoods provide.”

Founded originally as the Sempervirens Club, the Sempervirens Fund has preserved over 34,000 acres of redwood forests since 1900, when it purchased 3,800 acres of spectacular old growth  redwoods that established Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California's first state park.

Sempervirens President Diane Talbert, in announcing these Board appointments, said:  “It is a pleasure to welcome Craig Neyman to the Sempervirens Board of Directors. His knowledge, compassion, and broad experience will provide invaluable guidance in enhancing the work of our local land trust. I am also delighted to welcome Dr. Nichols to our Science Advisory Panel, which advises the Board and staff on a variety of important matters related to redwood forests, landscape ecology, and climate change. He is pure inspiration and will open new avenues of exploration for Sempervirens Fund.”

Today, Sempervirens Fund is working to create a Great Park--the size of Redwood or Zion National Parks--in the Santa Cruz Mountains by connecting existing public lands and working forests to each other.  The Great Park planning area comprises 198,000 acres, of which 99,000 have already been protected.  Sempervirens has targeted another 39,000 acres as its priority for acquisition.

Sempervirens Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to protect and permanently preserve redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest, wildlife habitat, watersheds, and other important natural and scenic features of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, and to encourage public appreciation and enjoyment of this environment.

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