The project team will engage the diverse range of partners and skill sets that are needed to help communities implement community forestry. The Conservation Fund brings a unique blend of skills and experience to provide the leadership needed for long-term success of the NCFSC. We work in partnership to advance integrated economic and environmental goals, and our understanding of, and access to, land conservation and timberland financing resources will help leverage real change in our partner communities.

Primary Staff

Mikki Sager, Conservation Fund Vice-President and Resourceful Communities Program Director

Mikki oversees the community outreach and partnership-building activities with support from the Resourceful Communities Program staff and partner organizations. She has 18 years of experience in working with rural communities to plan and implement natural resource-based solutions to social and economic challenges.

Evan Smith, Conservation Fund Vice-President for Forestland Acquisition and Finance

Evan oversees the forest assessment and management/stewardship planning processes. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Forestry and has provided technical support to forestland acquisition projects totaling more than 400,000 acres; he manages the Fund's North Coast Forest Initiative in California.

Supporting Conservation Fund Staff

Dan Sakura, VP for Government Relations and Director of Real Estate, will assist TCF field office real estate professionals in priority focus areas by overseeing the real estate acquisition processes and providing support in exploring public funding support to CF projects. Dan has extensive experience working with federal agencies and decision-makers to advance land and water conservation and forestland acquisition projects.

Rick Larson, took Director, Sustainable Ventures and NC Program Director, Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIF), will provide support to natural resource-based enterprise development activities in partner communities; and will also serve as the primary liaison to CDFI and Triple Bottom Line Collaborative partners. Rick has extensive experience in sustainable job creation and triple bottom line investing.

Jazmin Varela, Strategic Conservation Information Manager, will provide GIS mapping and analysis support in determining areas of opportunity. A graduate of Duke School of the Environment, Jazmin has extensive forestry research experience in Costa Rica.

Jenny Griffin, North Coast Program Manager (CA), will advise on conservation planning and community involvement, primarily in the Western US. Jenny has over 20 years of experience in conservation planning, project management and community outreach.

TCF Real Estate, Forestry, NCIF, Strategic Conservation, Carbon Sequestration and Resourceful Communities Program staff will work closely with TCF project team members and partners to identify forest acquisition projects, develop stewardship and management plans, identify and invest in natural resource-based business opportunities, and support communities in planning, capacity-building and implementation efforts.