Hope is Wild. The forests of the Northeast are some of the most important on the planet. They also represent a remarkable second chance. Just over a century ago, much of the region was cleared for agriculture; today, much of the forest has regrown. What we choose to do with this gift from Nature is one of the great questions of our time. One strategy taking hold is rewilding, an often misunderstood approach that trusts natural processes to lead the way. Hear from Jon Leibowitz, President and CEO of Northeast Wilderness Trust, about what rewilding really means, the common characteristic of wild places across the world, and why bringing back old, complex forests is a hopeful endeavor in these trying times. An opportunity for conversation will follow remarks. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required here. 

Jon Leibowitz is the President & CEO of Northeast Wilderness Trust, where he has led the organization’s work to protect forever-wild landscapes across New England and New York since 2017. His path to conservation began with a summer as a park ranger in Vermont, an experience that changed the trajectory of his life and led him to Vermont Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor and a Master’s in Environmental Law and Policy. He launched his conservation career in 2012 as Executive Director of Montezuma Land Conservancy in Colorado, and he remains connected to the Four Corners as co-owner of WildEdge Brewing Collective in Cortez.

Jon lives in Middlesex, Vermont, at the southern edge of the Worcester Mountains, where he enjoys gardening and exploring the surrounding forest. He shares his home with his wife, two sons, a border collie, chickens, and an abundance of wildlife, his favorites being Hermit Thrushes, fishers, and red efts.

Photo: Salisbury Easements by Harry White.