How do you steward large landscapes while strengthening the communities who live, work, and recreate there? Drawing from the 130,000-acre Maine Woods Initiative, this workshop explores the Appalachian Mountain Club's people-centered model of land conservation that blends land management, recreation, economic vitality, and community partnerships. Participants will examine how intentional community engagement, Indigenous collaboration, public access, and shared governance can amplify conservation outcomes across decades.
Learning Objectives:
Conservation design through a socio-economic lens.
Organizational growth through engagement in community conservation work.
Empowering local voices in management decisions.
Presenters:
Carolyn Ziegra, Forest Manager, Appalachian Mountain Club
Bio:Carolyn Ziegra is the current Forest Manager for the Appalachian Mountain Club and began working for the organization in 2022. Carolyn currently oversees daily operations and management planning for the 1270,000-acre AMC Maine Woods property in Piscataquis County, Maine. In addition, she helps with management of AMC's other landholdings throughout the northeast, manages AMC's carbon projects, and leads forest research projects addressing management of northern hardwoods. Carolyn graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Forestry and Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. She is currently a licensed forester in both Maine and New Hampshire.
Emily Wight, Trails Manager, Appalachian Mountain Club
They started seasonally with the AMC in 2021 and have worked all across New England including work on the multi-year restoration of the on the Franconia Loop Trail and several locations along the Appalachian Trail. Emily currently works in the AMC Maine Woods, where they manage the 120-mile trail system and 41 campsites. Emily combines technical trail skills with extensive volunteer management to support a year-round trail network of hiking trails, ski trails, gravel bike trails, and water recreation access points across northern Maine. They started seasonally with the AMC in 2021 and have worked all across New England including work on the multi-year restoration of the on the Franconia Loop Trail and several locations along the Appalachian Trail. Emily currently works in the AMC Maine Woods, where they manage the 120-mile trail system and 41 campsites. Emily combines technical trail skills with extensive volunteer management to support a year-round trail network of hiking trails, ski trails, gravel bike trails, and water recreation access points across northern Maine.
Alex DeLucia, Director of Trails & Recreation Management, Appalachian Mountain Club
Alex has worked with AMC’s Trails Department since 2001 supporting all aspects of the department’s operations over the years. Beginning with a degree from Unity College in Adventure Education and Outdoor Program Administration, to working in a number of outdoor leadership roles and conservation stewardship roles, Alex found a love for trail work in the White Mountains of NH with the Appalachian Mountain Club. That passion for resource protection and recreation management has led to the continued engagement with AMC’s efforts to protect and maintain trails from the Mid-Atlantic to northern Maine. Alex brings together skills and experiences from public land mangers across the northeast to address recreation management needs of our public lands.