LOVELL — Erika Rowland is back in the Greater Lovell Land Trust’s executive director’s seat.

GLLT announced last week that Dr. Rowland of Bridgton has been appointed as its Executive Director, effective June 1, 2024. She will succeed Rhyan Paquereau, who was appointed as Interim Executive Director in 2023. Paquereau will remain at the Land Trust as its Stewardship and Conservation Director.

Dr. Rowland brings a wealth of conservation and land trust experience to her role. She served as Executive Director of the Greater Lovell Land Trust from 2019-2023, where she was responsible for more than 2000 acres of newly conserved lands. She also led the successful effort to achieve national accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and worked tirelessly to develop regional collaborations with other conservation organizations.

As Dr. Rowland noted, “Human and ecological communities are experiencing changes in climate conditions every day. Land conservation and stewardship preserve not just property, but clean water, animal and plant habitats, and places for people to enjoy now and for many years to come. If done thoughtfully and collaboratively, our local work will contribute to climate solutions for the Western Maine region and beyond.”

Dr. Rowland left GLLT to become Eastern Program Development Director for the Forest Stewards Guild, a national organization promoting ecological, economic and sustainable forest management.

In addition to her experience with the GLLT, Erika has deep experience in conservation and climate change science. She has worked for many years with land trusts and conservation organizations in Maine, serving as a climate scientist and conservation specialist.

Erika holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maine in Forest Resources, as well as a master’s degree in Quaternary Studies from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Her academic work analyzed data from tree rings, plant pollen, charcoal fragments, and material preserved in wetland sediments to understand how vegetation has changed in response to climate shifts over the past 5,000 years.  

“We are delighted that Erika is returning to the Greater Lovell Land Trust,” said Carolyn Hotchkiss, Board president. “She brings long-term visionary thinking paired with leadership skills in fundraising, community engagement and learning, strategy, and organizational development. She champions the balance of local and regional vision and action that’s so critical to preserving the land we love here in western Maine.”

The Greater Lovell Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit land conservation organization. Established in 1985, the mission of the land trust is to protect the ecosystems of the Kezar Lake, Kezar River, and Cold River watersheds that are headwaters of the Saco River system, for the benefit of natural and human communities today and as a legacy for the future. Learn more at our website: gllt.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @greaterlovelllandtrust.