Maryland Environmental Trust Announces New Director

William H. Leahy to Focus on Public Input and Interest

The Board of Trustees of the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) today announced the hiring of William H. Leahy as its next director. Leahy is a nationally recognized leader in the field of natural resources preservation, with over 20 years of experience in land conservation with a focus on transactional real estate, strategic planning, board development, donor and foundation philanthropy, and partnership building.

“I am stepping into this role at an exciting time for the organization,” said Leahy. “MET has a strong desire to build on its long track record of success in partnership with landowners, local land trusts, conservation groups and the state. Our longstanding commitment to strengthening local, community-based land trusts is increasingly vital work in today’s age of development.”

Leahy has a background in fostering innovative partnerships and dialogue around complex land use issues and overcoming 21st century stewardship challenges associated with sustaining local economies, including adapting to climate change, improving water quality and ensuring social equity.

“I strongly believe that the long term challenge facing conservation groups today is public interest, which we can solve by connecting Marylanders to our shared story of the land,” said Leahy. “This is a difficult task, but one MET can play a significant role in as seen by its past successes.”

As executive director of the Big Sur Land Trust for more than 10 years, Leahy successfully led the organization in strengthening community engagement, resulting in new stewardship partnerships and constituencies. Prior to that, he worked for The Nature Conservancy, where he negotiated easement acquisitions at priority sites. In that capacity, he managed one of California’s largest and most visible public land conservation projects, the 10,000-acre Palo Corona Ranch purchase in Monterey County.

Leahy resides in Montgomery County with his wife and teenage daughter. With a deep affection for many places in the Mid-Atlantic region, he recently joined the board of the Montgomery County Historical Society.

Governed by a citizen board of trustees, the Maryland Environmental Trust is affiliated with the Department of Natural Resources. MET currently holds more than 1,070 easements totaling around 133,000 acres in Maryland. For more information, visit dnr.maryland.gov/met.