The Nature Conservancy just Obama鈥檚 former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell as its new interim CEO. The leadership change comes in the wake of an into sexual harassment and misconduct at the organization. Several top executives were implicated and have stepped down, including the CEO and the President.
Aaron Weiss, with the , is optimistic about Jewell taking the helm of the Nature Conservancy.
鈥淵ou鈥檇 have trouble finding anyone more qualified,鈥� he said, 鈥渨ith more first-hand knowledge of public lands and conservation issues in the West.鈥�
Weiss said her track record is important because The Nature Conservancy nearly 3 million acres across the Mountain West and has the ability to buy land for permanent conservation. He pointed to her pivotal role in establishing in Utah in 2016.
But Leland Pollock, a County Commissioner in which is home to another large national monument, Grand Staircase Escalante, is not a fan of Jewell鈥檚 approach to public lands.
鈥淚 disagreed with almost every policy she had,鈥� Pollock said, 鈥渂ecause it was more of a wilderness-type lock-everything-up approach rather than the way public lands in the West should be managed. They should be managed for multiple use.鈥�
The Nature Conservancy was not available for comment. But in a , Jewell said 鈥淚 am humbled and pleased to step forward to support this important organization through its transition.鈥�
Jewell is set to take up the interim CEO position in early September.
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