From the Desk of Pat Byington

To all Wild South-ers,

I am humbled and honored to serve you all as the Executive Director at Wild South. As the Tennessee Wild Campaign Coordinator, I was able to witness the many strengths inside our organization, most importantly YOU. Our supporters are the heart and soul that drive us to fight for public lands protection, for cultural heritage preservation, for wildlife advocacy and for community support. I believe this is essential work that serves millions of people across the region and I am incredibly excited by what we are doing together.

As I step into this new role, Wild South is stronger than ever and firing on all cylinders. Just this week, we passed the TN Wilderness Bill through a US Senate Committee. We are leading the charge of wilderness advocacy and stewardship in Alabama and Mississippi. We stand as a community leader in North Carolina and hold an important seat at the table with the Forest Service as we influence the next Forest Plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. We are connecting major corridors and securing landscape level protection across the South – with your help.

I know many of you already, and can’t wait to build friendships with those I have yet to meet. The Wild South staff and Board of Directors are some of the most professional, enthusiastic, passionate people I’ve known and we are united with you to protect wild places and wild things.

For the Wild,

Pat Byington, Executive Director