Whole-System Landscape Vision
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Video: Central Appalachians Whole-System Landscape Vision
Thomas Minney is the Central Appalachians Integrated Landscape Project Director for The Nature Conservancy, a conservation organization whose mission is to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Thomas’ work leading the Central Appalachians Integrated Landscape Project spans West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. He is responsible for building landscape-scale, habitat-based, cross-boundary projects and capacity building across the Central Appalachian states. Thomas works within The Nature Conservancy and builds partnerships with federal agency and private partners to address threats such as climate change and to focus conservation dollars and maximize conservation results. Prior to taking on his current position Thomas was the Conservation Programs Director for The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia. In this role Thomas was responsible for leading staff to set conservation priorities, build effective programming, and implement innovative and effective strategies to achieve on the ground results to protect West Virginia’s natural resources. In his work Thomas has worked closely with private landowners, the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, WV Division of Natural Resources, researchers and scientists, and others to identify, prioritize, and protect West Virginia’s and the Central Appalachians most significant natural assets. A native of Gilmer County, West Virginia, Thomas received his undergraduate degrees in Political Science and History from Shepherd College. After Shepherd, Thomas spent several years abroad and took a masters degree in Development for the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. Thomas now resides in Elkins, West Virginia, with his wife and two sons.
