Heather Richards

State Director, Virginia and Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, Conservation Acquisition

As Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Heather oversees the Fund’s Conservation Acquisition programs in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia and Virginia. She also continues to serve as Virginia State Director, developing and implementing conservation projects throughout the Commonwealth.  As Program Manager for the Fund’s Mitigation Solutions program, Heather also coordinates the activities of the Fund’s Acquisitions field staff who are engaged in deploying mitigation across the country.

Since 1997, Heather has worked in the field of wildlife and land conservation and has extensive experience in implementing conservation programs on the ground in diverse communities.  Her experience with land trusts includes chairing the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, as well as more than 10 years of leadership with Virginia’s United Land Trusts (VaULT).  Prior to coming to the Fund, Heather developed and managed robust land conservation programs at the Piedmont Environmental Council and Potomac Conservancy.  She also coordinated species conservation and reintroduction programs for Defenders of Wildlife.

Heather holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Political Science and Environmental Policy from American University.

Contact:  hrichards@conservationfund.org     Phone: 703-203-0060