A message from Nature and Culture International’s new President

Dear Friends of Nature and Culture International,

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to you personally as the new President and CEO of Nature and Culture International and to thank you for your interest in and support for our work. If ever I am daunted by the challenges ahead, I find resolve and strength knowing you are with Nature and Culture International, helping us conserve the diverse ecosystems and cultures that enrich our planet and ourselves immeasurably.

To briefly share my background, I fell in love with Latin America – its vibrant cultures, stunning landscapes, and beautiful plants and animals – as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras in the 1990s. Subsequently, I graduated with a master’s in Environmental Management from Yale University, then worked for four years for Native American tribal governments supporting their treaty rights to water resources and fish. For seven years, I was the Executive Director of Johnson Creek Watershed Council, a conservation nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, where I’m from.

In 2015, my wife, Abby and our two boys, Rowan (11) and Quillan (8) pulled up stakes and moved to Loja, Ecuador. Since then, I’ve been working in Nature and Culture International’s Loja office. On a personal note, I enjoy hiking, nature photography, birdwatching, and playing the guitar.

Having helped conserve more than 15 million acres of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, Nature and Culture International has an impressive track record to build on. I’m excited to increase that number substantially in the coming years. I’m also looking forward to exploring new partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, universities, and government agencies to amplify our impact in other arenas such as the sustainable use of forest resources to improve the lives of people who live in and around the areas we help protect. In short, I see a lot of opportunity for Nature and Culture International in the months and years ahead.

Again, thank you for your support and I look forward to meeting many of you personally in the near future.

Warm regards,

Matt Clark, President and CEO

Read the press release announcing Matt Clark as Nature and Culture International’s new President and CEO here.