Creating the newest national park

In collaboration with the Duke Conservation Society, the Institute was privileged to host Joel Dunn, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy, at the Nicholas School of the Environment this week. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, the Chesapeake Conservancy is a growing nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. As a Nicholas School alumnus himself (MEM/MPP '04), Joel is very proud that the Conservancy has hired 10 Nic School graduates to full-time positions over the past 14 years.

During his presentation, Joel highlighted the Conservancy’s campaign to create a Chesapeake National Recreation Area, a new unit of the National Park System, dedicated to the Chesapeake Bay. Using three exemplary projects that demonstrate equity in conservation, he outlined the organization’s commitment to protecting 30% of the region’s land and water by 2030. Joel finished by discuss the creation of the Conservation Innovation Center, now in its 10th year, and the emerging Evidence Based Conservation Policy Initiative enabled by data and analyses.