NJ Conservation mission advances with evolution of leadership team

TRENTON, NJ - John S. "Jay" Watson Jr., longtime environmental leader in New Jersey and co-executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJ Conservation), announced today he will step down from his position at the end of 2024 to move toward semi-retirement. Beginning January 1, 2025, Co-Executive Director Alison Mitchell will be appointed NJ Conservation's sole executive director. Anthony Cucchi, an accomplished conservation professional and former superintendent of parks for the Mercer County Park Commission, joins NJ Conservation as director of programs, effective today.

"I have respected the people and the work of NJ Conservation for as long as I have worked in this field, and that respect has grown immeasurably during my tenure with the organization," said Watson. "I can think of no better way to finish my professional career than to focus exclusively on urban greening and conservation justice in places like the City of Trenton, a community I love and where I was raised."

In his new role at NJ Conservation, Watson will focus on launching a statewide "Green and Healthy Cities" campaign to urge New Jersey's governor and legislature to establish a task force dedicated to green infrastructure investments in the state's urban areas; continuing to lead NJ Conservation's major tree planting initiative in Trenton that includes planting 1,000 trees in the city over the next three years; and advocating for good natural resource protection policies and initiatives across New Jersey, among other efforts.

"Jay Watson is deeply admired and appreciated, personally and professionally, by NJ Conservation staff and trustees, as well as our friends and colleagues throughout New Jersey's environment and conservation community. His impact has been profound - and thankfully, will continue," said Louise Currey Wilson, NJ Conservation's Board President. "We are delighted and grateful that Jay will remain with NJ Conservation in a new, critically important leadership role in our urban landscape."

"Alison Mitchell is uniquely qualified to lead NJ Conservation as our sole executive director," Wilson continued. "She has long been a leader at NJ Conservation, with a deep commitment to the organization's mission and a passion for expanding our impact at a time when land conservation and environmental policy are more important than ever. With Alison at the helm, Jay in his new role, and Anthony stepping into a key position in the organization, NJ Conservation will be well positioned to build on and amplify the work that benefits people and ecosystems in every corner of the state."

In addition to her work at NJ Conservation, Mitchell has served in a variety of conservation roles during her career. A New Jersey native and longtime resident of Hunterdon County, she helped found and later became president of the Hunterdon Land Trust, was a gubernatorial appointee to the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission, and shares a commitment to Trenton, previously serving on the board of Isles, a community development and environmental organization based in the city.

Cucchi will lead NJ Conservation's statewide land protection, policy, and urban action work. This includes advancing land protection projects that will safeguard irreplaceable open space, green New Jersey cities, preserve precious farmland - and add to the 140,000 acres protected by NJ Conservation. He will also guide the organization's advocacy for passing and implementing landmark legislation to protect and enhance our state's invaluable investment in forests.

Cucchi brings more than two decades of experience in land conservation and urban park development. As Mercer County's superintendent of parks, he oversaw management, stewardship, and public programming across more than 10,000 acres of parks and open space.

Prior to his work with the County, Cucchi spent a decade serving as state director for the Trust for Public Land's land protection and park development efforts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He also worked for The Trustees of Reservations, the nation's first and Massachusetts' largest preservation and conservation nonprofit; Burlington County's Farmland Preservation Program in New Jersey; and the National Audubon Society.

"We're so excited for Anthony to join our dedicated staff as we continue to make important strides in addressing the serious problems of dwindling wildlife habitats and loss of farmland and forests, and in advancing the promise of nature for all," said Mitchell. "With Anthony's wealth of knowledge in the conservation field, proven leadership abilities, and community-driven approach to projects, he brings vital and extensive experience to help advance NJ Conservation's critical mission."

"Throughout my conservation career, I've seen NJ Conservation as the state's leader in protecting the places that make New Jersey so special, all while inspiring others to do the same," Cucchi said. "As a New Jersey native with a passion for our wild places and also our vibrant green urban communities, I can't imagine a better place to help make an impact on our Garden State."

About New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Recognizing that a healthy environment is critical to the well-being and survival of all living things, New Jersey Conservation Foundation is devoted to preserving land and protecting natural resources throughout New Jersey's rural, suburban, and urban landscapes.

Since 1960, the nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide organization has preserved more than 140,000 acres of open space, farmland, and parks. The organization manages more than a dozen nature preserves, conducts public outreach and education programs, and advocates for sensible land use and climate policies that will protect the health of New Jersey's plants, wildlife, and people for generations to come.