New Mexico native Chris Smith will roam a much bigger turf as the newly promoted wildlife program director for the group WildEarth Guardians.
A veteran environmentalist and community organizer, Smith has served since 2017 as the organization’s Southern Rockies wildlife advocate. In his new position, Smith will have a hand in the wildlife efforts undertaken by WildEarth Guardians staffers located in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.
“Wildlife are on the front line of the climate crisis and the culture wars,” Smith said in a statement. “Both the charismatic big species like grizzlies and wolves in the news and the less-heralded critters knit our ecosystems together, and need protection and respect if our own species is going to have a thriving future.”
Smith replaces Lindsay Larris, the former wildlife program director who in April was appointed as the environmental group’s conservation director.
