Dr. Frogard Ryan
State Director, Connecticut
New Haven, CT
Frogard Ryan State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut © The Nature Conservancy
Areas of Expertise
Climate Change, Conservation, Beekeeping, Veterinary Physician
Biography
A passion for nature, a love of animals and a dedication to making the world a better place brought Dr. Frogard Ryan to the Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy as its state director in 2011. Her responsibilities include implementing the conservation agenda, producing tangible and lasting results, and maintaining our organizational values. She also oversees fundraising, marketing, budgeting and setting priorities. As state director, she is the Connecticut Chapter’s liaison to the Worldwide Office and Board of Trustees and is the chief spokesperson for both internal and external constituents.
Conservation milestones during her tenure include: securing a conservation easement for the largest coastal forest between New York City and Boston; shepherding the passage of the Blue Plan for Long Island Sound through legislature; reopening hundreds of miles of fish migration routes along Connecticut’s waterways; the development of a model coastal resilience building workshop that has been used throughout Connecticut, New York and several other states; and developing the chapter’s urban conservation program in Bridgeport. Frogard is often sought out for her expertise in structuring volunteer leadership, specifically systematic trustee recruitment. Frogard is skilled in recruiting and nurturing talent on the staff and the board and is a strong believer in lifelong learning.
Celebrating The Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act
July 22, 2020
Dear Friends;
It’s refreshing to celebrate some good news in these troubled times. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 310-107 to approve the Great American Outdoors Act, which will fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and make critical investments in our national park system and other public lands. The bill, which passed the U.S. Senate last month, now goes to the president for his promised signature.
During the pandemic so many of us have experienced the soothing and restorative power of nature in our lives, and it’s inspiring to see people from all sides come together to support the natural world. It’s a monumental achievement!
It’s also not hard to see why there’s broad support for this legislation. This act addresses two of the biggest challenges facing the American outdoors: underfunding the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the $20 billion backlog of repairs needed in National Parks and on our public lands. For more than 50 years, LWCF has helped preserve forests, open spaces, watersheds and other landscapes in every state. Several National Parks, along with hundreds of trails and athletic fields across the country, owe their existence and continuity to LWCF. It will provide $900 million each year for LWCF, and because LWCF uses federal offshore oil and gas revenue, it’s done at no cost to the taxpayer.
With its full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, this act signals a lasting commitment to nature and a recognition of all the benefits nature provides. It provides critical support for longstanding efforts to protect public lands, restore public places to be safer and more enjoyable, and increase access to nature for all communities.
We at The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut want to thank Representatives Himes, Hayes, Courtney, DeLauro and Larson, as well as Senators Blumenthal and Murphy as cosponsors of this generational legislation for conservation. It’s amazing that our entire Congressional delegation from Connecticut co-sponsored this bill, showing the deep appreciation of the environment in our state. Thank you all for your farsighted support of nature!
With warm regards,
Dr. Frogard Ryan
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