To address concerns over recent staffing changes and a realignment of advisory roles, The Nature Conservancy has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to Mashomack Preserve and Shelter Island.
“For over 40 years, The Nature Conservancy has been proud to protect and conserve Mashomack Preserve, which we intend to do for generations to come,” said TNC, which owns the 2,350-property.
“We appreciate that Mashomack is not only important for its ecological values but also as an essential part of the Shelter Island community. Our commitment to Mashomack, Shelter Island, and the natural communities that depend on the Preserve is unwavering. The Conservancy has no plans to sell any part of Mashomack or change public access.”
The Island has been atwitter with speculation over changes at the Preserve, so we asked TNC to explain its position. The nonprofit provided us with a statement (see the full text below); as did the Preserve’s ousted advisory group chair.
For context: in August, Alex Novarro, formerly Mashomack’s Conservation and Outreach Manager, took a post at TNC’s New Haven office to serve as Director of Stewardship and Ecological Management. TNC is interviewing candidates to replace Novarro in the role of Conservation and Stewardship Manager.
In December, Mashomack Preserve Director Jeremy Samuelson resigned and is now the Town of East Hampton’s new Director of Planning. In early February, Mashomack announced that longtime employee Rebecca Mundy is being promoted to take on an expanded role as Manor House Manager.
What’s more, TNC also disbanded the Preserve’s advisory group — colloquially known as the Board of Trustees, though members did not manage the nonprofit organization’s assets. TNC will transition to a local Conservation Advisory Group model better aligned with its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, a TNC spokesperson said.
Formerly new trustees could only be appointed by seated board members, the spokesperson, May Yeung, said. Under the new model, any Islander who wishes to participate in Preserve stewardship can join.
Statement from The Nature Conservancy in New York:
“For over 40 years, The Nature Conservancy has been proud to protect and conserve Mashomack Preserve, which we intend to do for generations to come,” TNC said in the statement. “We appreciate that Mashomack is not only important for its ecological values but also as an essential part of the Shelter Island community. Our commitment to Mashomack, Shelter Island, and the natural communities that depend on the Preserve is unwavering. The Conservancy has no plans to sell any part of Mashomack or change public access.”
Mashomack Preserve has been open to the public throughout the pandemic. While the Visitor Center and Manor House have been closed as a matter of public safety, visitation to the Preserve doubled. Since the pandemic started, the Conservancy has increased visitor hours, expanded parking, added new picnic tables and trails (including a “Coastal and Bluff” trail), and made available more user-friendly digital trail maps. These changes will remain after the planned opening of the Visitor Center and Manor House this spring.
The Conservancy values the Shelter Island community’s thoughtful input on the Conservancy’s conservation and stewardship of Mashomack, promotion of public access, enhancing the visitor experience, and inspiring future conservationists. We deeply appreciate everyone who served on the Mashomack Board over the years, and we look forward to continued community engagement with a new conservation advisory group. After the new Mashomack Preserve Conservation & Stewardship Manager is hired and settled, they will work closely with the Manor House Manager, Rebecca Mundy, to launch the conservation advisory group.
The Conservancy and the Mashomack team are excited for the arrival of spring, which will usher more in-person volunteer opportunities, as well as our ongoing slate of programs and events. To learn more, visit us online at nature.org/ny. We hope to see you soon!
Former board chair responds
Sean O’Shea, former chair of the Mashomack board, said in an email that candidates “were identified by a combination of board members and TNC personnel.”
“This is not new, and so is not a reason to disband the board,” he said, noting that board members understood the advisory nature of their role. “I offered to change to ‘Council’ rather than ‘Board’.”
However, he said, Bill Ulfelder, TNC’s Executive Director in New York, “rejected that but refused to explain why.”
“Ulfelder acknowledged that our board was the most diverse and inclusive of all the boards, but still disbanded it,” O’Shea said. “I sense that the diversity and inclusion reference is a cynical use of what sound like laudable goals to cover for shutting down local input.”
He said Ulfelder used the same excuses when shutting down the Long Island advisory board; “18 months later there is still no advisory council.”
Yeung said the new advisory group will be formed after TNC hires and brings on board the new Conservation & Stewardship Manager.
“We expect them to start this spring,” she said, in an email. “Once they are established in their role, they will work closely with the Manor House Manager Rebecca Mundy to help organize and support the new advisory group.”
“We will publicly announce its formation. We look forward to this new phase of community engagement.”
