Burton, Carey named to nature conservancy board of trustees

The Nature Conservancy in Delaware and Pennsylvania announced that Irwin “I.G.” Burton and Jenny Rose Carey have  joined the chapter’s board of trustees.

Burton and  Carey bring years of experience and leadership to their new positions in support of the conservancy’s mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

“We could not be more thrilled to welcome I.G. and Jenny to our board of trustees,” said Lori Brennan, director of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. “They are both passionate about conservation, have a deep appreciation of Delaware and Pennsylvania, and bring truly unique experience and expertise with them.”

“Our mission to protect the environment and tackle climate change requires diverse perspectives and strong voices. I.G. and Jenny bring those with them, so we’re truly grateful that they are joining us to keep that mission moving forward,” said Rich Aneser, board chair.

I.G. Burton is a lifelong Sussex County resident, where four generations of his family have operated a prominent and successful auto dealership in the Milford area for more than 100 years. Now retired, Burton has remained active in the community as a trustee for the University of Delaware. He formerly served as member and chairman of the board of directors for Bayhealth Hospital, a Sussex County Council member and a member of the Delaware Council on Transportation. Burton is an advocate for managed, responsible land use, economic development and growth.

“Being asked to serve as a Trustee for the Nature Conversancy in Delaware and Pennsylvania is truly an honor,” said  Burton. “Having been involved in county land-use decisions in Delaware for the last 20 years, I have witnessed the need and struggle to balance growth and preservation. Consistently working towards achieving this balance is at the heart of the Nature Conservancy’s work and mine. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this board and look forward to working with TNC to impact the First State positively.”

Jenny Rose Carey is a renowned gardener, educator, historian and author, and until recently served as the senior director at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Meadowbrook Farm in Jenkintown. She previously worked at Temple University for over a decade, first as an adjunct professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and then as director of the Ambler Arboretum.  Carey has been lecturing nationally and internationally for many years. She is an avid, hands-on gardener who whose gardens have been featured on the PBS series The Victory Garden, in the Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Green Scene magazine and the Pennsylvania Gardener.

“I look forward to working with the talented staff and dedicated trustees and volunteers to further the mission of land and water conservation and mitigating the climate crisis. I love the way that The Nature Conservancy focuses on local action that ties into global impact and I look forward to contributing knowledge from my background in academics and horticulture,” said Carey.

TNC is leading large-scale conservation programs that protect the lands and waters that are critical to the health and well-being of both people and nature. TNC’s work in  Delaware also focuses on building resilience against climate change - including along the state’s vulnerable coastlines - to protect human communities and habitats. In More information on the Delaware and Pennsylvania chapter’s work can be found in the recently released Strategic Roadmap for 2022-2024.