Voiced: New Land Trust Alliance CEO, Ashley Demosthenes
Ashley Demosthenes joins the Land Trust Alliance from Lowcountry Land Trust in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Land Trust Alliance welcomes Ashley Demosthenes as its new CEO starting on March 17. Demosthenes brings more than 25 years of conservation and land trust experience to the Alliance, including serving most recently as the CEO of South Carolina’s Lowcountry Land Trust, a nationally recognized leader in the land trust community located in Charleston, S.C.
Land Trust Alliance: Tell us a little bit about your background.
Ashley Demosthenes: I have spent nearly 25 years protecting the lands and waters of coastal South Carolina. After graduating with my B.A. in environmental studies, I started my career at The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina. In 2013, I joined Lowcountry Land Trust as its director of conservation and, in March 2015, I became the organization’s president and CEO. Lowcountry has protected 163,000 acres of land and is a leader in community-centered conservation. I am also co-founder and was board chair of the South Carolina Land Trust Network until last month.
Land Trust Alliance: When you look back on your work thus far, what makes you most proud?
Ashley Demosthenes: I am most proud of the collaborative spirit that I bring to my work. I am a firm believer that partnerships and cross-sector relationships are vital for advancing the mission of land conservation. This leadership paradigm has been a hallmark of our collective success in South Carolina, and I am eager to bring it to the Alliance in my new role.
A highlight of my time at Lowcountry was overseeing the design and planning of the future Angel Oak Preserve in Charleston, a multi-sensory, outdoor living museum. When complete, the preserve will feature accessible boardwalk trails, a nature play area for children and cultural interpretation. The centuries-old oak is sacred to generations of Sea Islanders, and the visitor experience being curated there will inspire a love for nature and its profound impact on the lives of people. To me, the project symbolizes what community-centered conservation and resilience is all about.
Land Trust Alliance: Why makes you excited about leading the Land Trust Alliance?
Ashley Demosthenes: I have often described the Alliance as the “mothership” for the land trust community, in that it is the backbone and the connective tissue for all land trusts across the nation. I am interested in building upon the excellent work of the Alliance, with an eye toward strengthening the organization’s mission to lift all land trusts, and in amplifying the collective impact that the Alliance and its member organizations have as protectors and stewards of working lands across America. I believe that land conservation is fundamental to our heritage, and to the health and vitality of future generations.
As a practitioner for the past 25 years, I know that land trusts are busy with their day-to-day work, and the Alliance serves as a creative force and a horizon seeker on emerging issues that affect conservation. Land trusts know their communities better than anyone, and the Alliance knows its land trust members’ needs. The Alliance is uniquely poised to provide for the long-term viability and sustainability of the land trust sector.
Land Trust Alliance: How would you describe yourself?
Ashley Demosthenes: I am known for being a calm, steady presence but also energetic and passionate. I am a firm believer in having fun with the work! When not working, I like to get outside with my husband and three children, walking, swimming or birdwatching. I also like to do yoga, read, connect with friends, make sourdough bread and fresh juices, travel and rest!
Land Trust Alliance: Why is conservation important?
Ashley Demosthenes: Conservation is a necessary effort of our time, particularly as we lose land and associated nature-based services at an unsustainable rate. Land conservation is a nonpartisan, proven solution for community challenges and changing environmental conditions that threaten our economy and well-being. Ultimately, land conservation is an expression of respect for our natural and cultural inheritance as Americans, without which the memories and stories of nature and humanity slip away.