BOSTON, Mass. – The Trustees of Reservations, one of the oldest non-profit land conservation organizations in the world, has named its first-ever Chief Conservation and Climate Officer (CCCO). Noah Matson, a nationally recognized conservation leader with over 25 years of experience, assumed the post on July 7, joining the organization’s executive leadership team.
“In 1891, as industrialization and environmental degradation in Boston reached unprecedented levels, Charles Eliot founded the Trustees to protect land for people and nature. We now face a new challenge as rapid generational turnover of our last remaining tracts of open land and the urgent impacts of climate change threaten our landscapes and communities,” said Trustees President and CEO Katie Theoharides. “In this moment we are focused on accelerating land conservation and developing and implementing innovative solutions to climate change and we need this dedicated position to prepare for climate change within our portfolio and elevate our knowledge and expertise to advocate for nature-based solutions and action on a broader scale.”
As CCCO for The Trustees, Matson will lead the organization’s conservation strategy for large landscapes, urban green spaces, and iconic special places. He will oversee a land conservation prioritization plan, accelerating the pace of land conservation in Massachusetts. He will also oversee climate adaptation and decarbonization strategies, including a plan for The Trustees to become increasingly net negative by 2050. He will lead climate mitigation strategies that integrate climate change into management of Trustees’ properties to help them address climate impacts, including working with surrounding communities to protect wildlife, habitat, and ecosystems. Matson will also lead advocacy efforts at the local and state level, ensuring that The Trustees’ can bring its deep on-the-ground experience in stewarding land to develop relevant policy solutions to climate change and land conservation at state and national levels.
“Protecting nature and open spaces are critical to addressing our ever-increasing heat waves, storms, floods, and sea levels,” said Matson. “I am thrilled to be taking on this new role for The Trustees to help expand conservation efforts throughout Massachusetts to meet these challenges head-on and at scale.”
Matson comes to The Trustees from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), where he served as Deputy Assistant Director for Migratory Birds at its Washington, D.C.-area headquarters.
He previously served in executive roles with the national conservation nonprofit community. From shaping landmark climate and wildlife policies to overseeing $170 million budgets and pioneering innovations in wildlife conservation and habitat protection, he has repeatedly driven impact at scale. A trusted advisor to senior officials and legislators, Matson has testified on climate change, developed legislation responsible for climate adaptation strategies and investments in wildlife and climate science, and launched precedent-setting regulations that harmonize renewable energy growth with species conservation. With a rare blend of visionary thinking, operational excellence, and coalition-building savvy, he is one of the country’s foremost leaders in nature conservation and climate adaptation.
Prior to serving at the USFWS, Matson worked for Defenders of Wildlife from 1999 to 2015 in various positions focused on landscape conservation, climate adaptation and climate change. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology-geology from the University of Rochester, and his Master of Environmental Management degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
“Noah brings a wealth of experience in conservation, climate work, and public policy development,” said Theoharides. “This is a challenging time for organizations like The Trustees, and we need strong leaders who believe in our mission, can guide our work, and have the public policy experience to be a strong advocate for us at the statehouse.”
“People love the special places protected for all to enjoy by The Trustees of Reservations,” said Matson. “There is a huge opportunity to showcase how these special places connect to large-scale solutions to the complex issues we face today.”
About The Trustees
Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for over 130 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of ecological, historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our 123 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. Learn more at www.thetrustees.org.
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