Melissa Hill is a Senior Project Manager for Trust for Public Land (TPL) focused on expanding the Florida Wildlife Corridor, connecting vital acreage of the Florida National Scenic Trail and protecting the special spaces that connect Floridians to the outdoors. Her work is centered on conserving land for public access by working directly with landowners and partner agencies to secure necessary funding and close complex real estate transactions. 

Prior to joining TPL, Melissa spent three years at the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Gulf Program addressing resilience issues, habitat protection, and water quality needs along Florida’s Gulf Coast. She received her master’s degree in Ecology from the University of Florida while researching opportunities for nature-based solutions at the intersection of private property rights and nesting sea turtles. Based in Tallahassee with her husband, she is a mediocre birder, enthusiastically bad at drumming, and deeply smitten with her favorite state.  

Learn more about the projects and work of Melissa and TPL below:

• Shoal River Headwaters State Park - Our Work in FL
• Florida - Our Work in Florida: Trust for Public Land
• Home | Florida National Scenic Trail | Forest Service
• Land Conservation and Open Space Referenda Map - North Florida Land Trust

This episode was hosted and edited by Zach Franco.