The Western New York Land Conservancy didn’t have to look far to find a new executive director.
The 32-year-old organization – which works to preserve forests, farmland and wetlands – turned to Marisa Riggi, promoted to deputy executive director of conservation in last year and named acting director in June, following the six-month tenure of Jonathan Kaledin.
Riggi, a Williamsville native who began working at the Land Conservancy in December 2017, has worked on several land acquisitions and is spearheading the Western New York Wildway to protect biodiversity and preserve forested corridors for plants and animals.
“Marisa has been a vital part of the Land Conservancy’s leadership team since her arrival, and she has done a fantastic job steering our conservation activities,” said Kathy Bieler, board president. “She has also conceptualized and championed the Western New York Wildway, a groundbreaking vision that is an ambitious, long-term project that will galvanize our community for decades to come.”
The plan envisions a protected expanse of forest and other natural lands providing corridors for animals and plants needed to combat the loss of wildlife and biodiversity and dangers posed by climate change.
Riggi, a 36-year-old married mother of two children who began her new job earlier this month, told The Buffalo News on Monday that she considers saving nature and biodiversity to be her “life’s mission.”
“This is the work I grew up wanting to do and went to college to do,” Riggi said. “To do it in my home…
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