Debby Clausen at Zylstra Lake, looking toward retirement | Staff photo
When we posted this story about the long career of SJPT Conservation Director Debby Clausen in last month’s Postcard, we didn’t know that, on New Year’s Day, she’d be announcing her retirement. So our story about Debby’s work to conserve trumpeter habitat from Alaska to the San Juans really was Debby’s swan song, a fitting coda to her 14 highly productive years on our staff.
Here’s Debby’s announcement:
At the end of February, I will be leaving employment with SJPT as Conservation Director. Since taking this position in 2006, 115 conservation-easement and preserve transactions have been completed. This has doubled SJPT’s protected acreage (now over 19,000 acres) and more than doubled protected shoreline miles (now more than 48 miles).
It has been my great privilege to work with you in conservation of critical habitats and landscapes in the San Juans, where your passion and dedication in service of our beautiful islands continues to sustain the Preservation Trust.
Significant new conservation remains to be done. I look forward to passing the conservation baton to my successor.
“Debby Clausen is a conservationist’s conservationist,” says SJPT Executive Director Angela Anderson. “Her expertise and accomplishments are admired throughout the region. The natural ecosystems and human communities of these islands have benefitted enormously from Debby’s dedication and persistent efforts over many years.”
If you’d like to join us in thanking Debby and wishing her well in retirement, send her a note.
A search for our new Conservation Director is now underway. We’ll be posting the position soon on the Employment page of our website. Look for more in our February e-Postcard from the Islands.