The new Alberta Regional Vice President of the Nature Conservancy of Canada comes into the job from a background in the cattle and ranching industry.

Tom Lynch-Staunton takes over for Bob Demulder, who retires at the end of September.

He spent his career in senior roles with both the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the Alberta Beef Producers.

Lynch-Staunton says that background will help him bridge the gap between conservation efforts and the beef industry.

"You know what's different about this role. Yes, it's a little bit of a different direction, but because we work so closely with ranchers throughout the province, I'll still be involved in the beef industry."

Lynch-Staunton says ranching, environmental stewardship and the economics of both, go hand in hand.

"Taking care of the land in the long term, not only benefits the environment, but the economic well being for ranches."

He says coming from the beef sector makes it easier for him to communicate his ideas to farmers, ranchers and others who use the land because they both speak the same language.

"Those stewardship values and long term conservation values that we hold as ranchers are the same values that the Nature Conservancy has when they're looking at conserving these natural landscapes, especially natural grasslands."

One of Lynch-Staunton's first jobs will be to help oversee the completion of the deal for the Jim Prentice Wildlife Corridor through the Crowsnest Pass in Southern Alberta.

 

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