Clark, who has led the group for 12 years, will stay in her job whereas the group’s board of administrators conducts a seek for her substitute, the group mentioned in an announcement.
“I’ve devoted my profession to environmental conservation, and at this level in my life I imagine I could make a higher impression on wildlife by making use of my ardour, data and expertise otherwise,” Clark mentioned in an announcement. “I look ahead to focusing my time and vitality extra immediately on urgent conservation challenges affecting endangered species and necessary landscapes and serving to to strengthen the following technology of wildlife conservationists.”
Clark is a biologist by coaching who led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Clinton administration. She first joined Defenders of Wildlife in 2004 and has been His identify is President and CEO He joined the group in 2011 when Rodger Schlekessen retired from that function.
Mark Caylor, chairman of the group’s board of administrators, known as Clark “an icon within the conservation motion” and mentioned she “will probably be vastly missed.”
Beneath its route, the advocates launched a Middle for Conservation Innovation whereas increasing their discipline presence to incorporate the Northwest, Southeast, Texas and New Mexico, the group mentioned.
Clark was among the many highest-paid leaders of nationwide environmental teams, in response to E&E Information evaluate of nonprofit tax returns. The group’s most up-to-date publicly obtainable tax return reveals Clark earned $599,128 in 2021, a determine that features her wage, bonus and different advantages.