2026 Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award Winner Ellen Ferretti
The WeConservePA Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award honors individuals whose lifelong efforts have made a lasting impact on conservation across Pennsylvania. This year’s recipient is Ellen Ferretti, Executive Director of North Branch Land Trust. Established in 2004, the award honors conservation professionals and volunteers for commitment and leadership in conservation.
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“We are deeply grateful for Ellen’s many contributions to the region and have been fortunate to benefit from her vision, expertise, and leadership at North Branch Land Trust. This recognition is both prestigious and well deserved. Congratulations, Ellen!”
— Stephen Maakestad,
Chair, North Branch Land Trust Board of Directors
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Ms. Ferretti has worked for decades at many levels learning about and championing the conservation of land and responsible stewardship of the environment and the natural resources in Pennsylvania.
In addition to leading North Branch Land Trust, based in Dallas, Luzerne County, Ms. Ferretti was previously Executive Director of The Brandywine Conservancy in Chadds Ford, and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of the Commonwealth.
Her work started with a degree in Environmental Science/Biology, from then Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
She raised her three children before securing an entry level position with Westinghouse Environmental and Geotechnical Services in South Carolina assessing and administering clean-up of contaminated properties. She continued as a consultant on environmental assessments in a dozen states. This prior experience helped form her passion for conserving natural resources to ensure that farms, forests, and water could be protected in perpetuity from wayward industrial and developmental threats.
Returning to Pennsylvania, she met Dr. Doug Ayers, a founder of the Back Mountain Regional Land Trust, the precursor to North Branch Land Trust. They shared a mutual interest in conservation, and she attended many organization meetings and served on its board for years. This involvement kindled her love of conservation.
Ms. Ferretti volunteered for then worked with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, first as Vice President, Regional Director and then Coordinator, Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape. While leading all aspects of the Northeast Regional Office, she devoted herself as a member of several statewide policy teams networking with stakeholders, from individuals and nonprofits to local, state and federal government agencies.
At PEC, Ms. Ferretti engaged in a myriad of conservation and environmental projects: The first Bi-County Open Space Plan for Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties; the creation of Forest Legacy Program for Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties; the Brownfield-Grayfield Task Force, the Wyoming Valley Watershed Association, Wyoming Valley RiverFEST on Susquehanna River; a pilot program which strengthened the connection between local communities and the DCNR-owned and managed lands; numerous collaborative efforts to plan and build recreational trails and greenways on land and water; land conservation projects in partnership with The Conservation Fund and PA DCNR, as well as various Luzerne County offices.
Significantly, she spearheaded the conservation of land formerly owned by Pennsylvania Gas & Water Company working with The Conservation Fund, Luzerne County Commissioners and Pennsylvania DCNR to purchase and conserve as much as possible to be part of Lackawanna State Forest, now the Pinchot State Forest.
Her passion for conservation and success working with state agencies led her to work as Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry and soon was named Secretary of the Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. From a program perspective, Ellen focused on the Enhance Penn’s Woods program – a two-year, $200 million dollar effort to repair and update PA’s State Forests and Parks. Projects included improvements to the Commonwealth’s most visited and unique forests and parks in the state system, such as visitor and resource centers, and building, road, bridge, and trail upgrades. It also included adding 20,000 acres of land to the state forest system. At the time of adoption, the investment was the largest short-term funding commitment to state park and forest infrastructure in the history of the Commonwealth.
In 2016, Ellen became the Director of the Brandywine Conservancy, a leading land trust in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She was highly effective during her tenure, managing a team of 25 people and developing many key relationships in land conservation and with stewardship and municipal partners. During her tenure, she oversaw the stewardship of the Conservancy’s 490 easements, developed multiple preserves across southeastern and southwestern Pennsylvania, including the new public Glenroy Preserve, expanded the land encompassed by the beloved, Laurels Preserve. and led staff in securing an additional 30 easements and nearly 6,000 acres of conserved land, contributing to the Brandywine Conservancy’s total of more than 68,000 acres of permanently preserved land. Most importantly, Ellen rebuilt strong relationships with the Conservancy’s landowners and community members, integrating them as key conservation partners and advocates for continued conservation efforts, and led the creation of a robust education program in the Southeast PA and Southwest PA Conservancy service areas.
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“Ellen’s extraordinary leadership has indelibly shaped the conservation legacy of Pennsylvania. With authenticity at the core of her work, she has united communities, advanced the stewardship of our natural resources, and championed a vision rooted in collaboration and care. Through her steadfast commitment to mentorship, she has cultivated a rising generation of conservation leaders—ensuring a vibrant and enduring future for the Commonwealth’s landscapes and the people who protect them.”
— Stephanie S. Armpriester,
Chief Impact Officer, Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art
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Most recently she returned home to lead the North Branch Land Trust, achieving several goals: Working with Senator Lisa Baker to turn the Howland Preserve into Vosburg Neck State Park, the first state park in Wyoming County; and successfully completing the first conservation of land around the Huntsville Reservoir near Dallas, the first easement by Pennsylvania American Water.
In just a few years under Ms. Ferretti’s leadership North Branch Land Trust developed a robust conservation easement program conserving more and more acreage, including partnering with Earth Conservancy to add more land to the Pinchot State Forest, and established a robust environmental education program.
Ellen’s greatest strength lies in her ability to connect with people on a personal level and bring them together in support of conservation. While many awards focus on measurable achievements—which she has in abundance—what truly sets Ellen apart is her embodiment of genuine conservation leadership. She is deeply committed to the field, giving her full energy and passion to every effort. Her authenticity allows her to forge meaningful connections, inspiring and empowering others to rally around conservation in ways that are personal and impactful. This ability to earn trust and foster collaboration has been central to her remarkable success.
Ellen stands out as a visionary and humble leader who understands the concept of perpetuity. In addition to her significant conservation successes, she has extensively invested her own time and energy into the next generation of conservationists, providing opportunities for growth through mentorship. Ellen’s work to develop emerging leaders across the Commonwealth has strengthened conservation and given the field a bright future. That is a lasting legacy, indeed.
Ellen will be honored and presented with her award at the 2026 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference, held at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square on Thursday, April 30, at 8:30 am. Please visit the conference website to register.
Previous Award Winners
2022 – Molly Morrison
2023 – Karen Martynick and David Shields
2024 – Steven J. Schiffman, Esq.
2025 – Cynthia Carrow
