DOS October Meeting: Kate Hackett will speak on “Restoring Delaware’s Forests”

Kate will be talking about DWL’s forest acquisition and reforestation projects and new work on the sustainable forestry program at the Great Cypress Swamp.  This will include updates about plans and existing projects at the Passmore Farm, Fortner Farm, and Great Cypress Swamp….as well as a new project she hopes to announce!  There are also four volunteer tree planting events coming up so information will be provided about those as well.

Kate Hackett, Executive Director, Delaware Wild Lands Ms. Hackett has more than 25 years of leadership experience in land and water conservation and management including land acquisition, protection of water resources, public policy, government relations, fundraising, grant writing, strategic communications, and constituency building She works with a broad range of stakeholders, including: local residents; landowners; non-profits; advisory boards; local, regional, state, and Federal governments; for-profit companies; public-private collaborations; and environmental organizations. She served as the Executive Director of Delaware Wild Lands and has worked there for 10 years. Prior to joining Delaware Wild Lands, she worked for The Nature Conservancy in Delaware, the United States Forest Service, UNICEF, the Eritrean Ministry of Water Works, and Tompkins County Planning Department (in upstate New York), among other organizations.

Kate has degrees from Yale University and the University of Michigan School of Public Policy.  She presently resides in Wilmington, DE with her husband Dr. Kent Messer. In her spare time, she’s an avid hiker, paddler, and fairly unsuccessful beekeeper!