Healthy Cities, Healthy Planet
Bringing the Power of Nature to Greater Providence. When we invest in a healthier urban environment, we create shared economic strength, and we build more resilient communities.
The Nature Conservancy is launching a new program that will provide economic, environmental, and social benefits for Providence and the surrounding communities. Top priorities include reducing stormwater and nutrient pollution in urban rivers and upper Narragansett Bay, restoring degraded fish and wildlife habitats, and improving air quality through urban forestry. This effort expands the Conservancy’s Global Cities program, which is delivering science-based conservation solutions around the world, from New York City to Sao Paolo to Beijing.
The Conservancy has hired Sheila Dormody as its first Providence Metro Program Manager. Sheila is a recognized environmental leader, who served as Providence’s first Director of Sustainability and led the Rhode Island office of Clean Water Action for more than a decade. She brings tremendous experience, energy, and capacity to the Conservancy, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the team.
The Providence Metro Program will engage Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls, as well as parts of East Providence and Cranston. It builds on the success of smaller-scale Conservancy initiatives to inspire a new generation to enter environmental fields and make cities even better places to live.
Since 2012, the Conservancy has provided summer internships for more than 30 Central Falls High School students in New Hampshire, Maine, and Nevada. In 2014, the Conservancy partnered with the City of Providence and RIDEM to open a new boat ramp at Gano Park, the city’s first public boat ramp.