Jesica Blake, Associate Director of the Coastal Land Trust, has been appointed to the national Land Trust Alliance Conservation Defense Advisory Council.

Membership is limited to 16 individuals: experienced, knowledgeable, dedicated attorneys and conservation practitioners plus members of the Alliance board Conservation Defense Committee.

As a member of the Advisory Council, Jesica will actively assist with preparation, review and maintenance of the legal clearinghouse; assist with continuing legal education curriculum and a legal curriculum for land trust staff, boards and volunteers.

Jesica, a land trust stewardship professional with a science background, has been a key presenter at the yearly National Land Trust Alliance Rally since 2003. Presentations and workshops led by her such as Hot Topics in Stewardship, consistently receive evaluations of at least 4.5 out of 5.

Considerations for membership include: direct land trust experience, teaching history (including evaluations from Alliance events), Rally and conference attendance, team work and problem-solving attitude, and reputation in the conservation community.

Among the many duties of an Advisory Council member is to be an ambassador to the larger conservation community and to assist with promoting all aspects of conservation defense.