Joseph Hankins

Vice President and West Virginia State Director @The Conservation Fund

WV, US

West Virginia State Director for Conservation Acquisition for The Conservation Fund, Joe joined the Fund in 1992 to develop aquaculture, sustainable rural economic development and technology outreach in Appalachia and led The Freshwater Institute, an internationally recognized research and consulting program focused on water reuse technology in food production until 2018. Today he provides leadership for land conservation partnership work in West Virginia. Joe currently serves as a Trustee on the West Virginia DNR Wildlife Endowment Board and as Trustee and Chair of the West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund. Working with colleagues and partners in 2016 Joe helped to protect over acres in southern West Virginia for elk reintroduction, wildlife habitat and public outdoor access. The project is the largest single conservation acquisition and conveyance in West Virginia state agency history. In five years the Fund\'s West Virginia land conservation team has conserved and conveyed over acres of new public lands in twelve counties, creating eight new Wildlife Management Areas and expanded State Forests and State Parks.

Hood College

M.A.

Purdue University

B.S.