New Canaan Land Trust President Art Berry announced the transition of executive director leadership from Mike Johnson to Aaron Lefland. Berry thanked Johnson for his many contributions to the Land Trust over the past year, notably supporting the acquisition of the Silvermine Fowler Preserve, strengthening outreach and youth programs, stepping up stewardship and progressing the effort for national accreditation. Johnson is heading back to the Pacific Northwest to pursue his career in conservation.
Johnson has passed the leadership baton to Lefland, a Connecticut native and fellow graduate of the Yale School of Forestry. Prior to attending Yale, Aaron helped manage the stewardship and forestry programs at Land’s Sake, a nonprofit in the Boston suburb of Weston, Mass. In that position Aaron was responsible for identifying and carrying out various stewardship activities including invasive species removal, stone wall preservation, trail maintenance, and timber stand improvement. Lefland was also responsible for working with adults, students, and youth groups to engage and educate members of the community with a mission to connect people with the natural spaces around them.
At the Yale School of Forestry, Lefland focused most of his education and research on the sustainable management of New England forests and open spaces, which will be directly transferrable to the management of properties owned by the NCLT. With a Masters in Forest Science focused on Silviculture, Managing Resources and Management Plans for Protected Areas, Lefland will guide the Land Trust forward toward achieving national accreditation.
New Canaan: A Yale forestry graduate will soon lead the New Canaan Land Trust. Mike Johnson, left, hands over a document to his successor as executive director of New Canaan Land Trust, Aaron Lefland. — Contributed photo
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