William L Allen

About William L Allen

I am a nationally recognized leader in strategic conservation planning, bringing over 30 years of experience at the intersection of geospatial analysis, land use planning, and environmental decision support. My work focuses on helping communities, agencies, and nonprofits align conservation goals with data-driven strategies to maximize impact in resource-constrained environments.Throughout my career—including nearly three decades at The Conservation Fund and current leadership roles at Innovation Resources Group and LegacyWorks Group—I have led or contributed to more than three dozen conservation plans across the U.S. These projects span stormwater management, climate resilience, habitat protection, and green infrastructure at local, regional, and national scales.I specialize in integrating spatial models and structured decision-making tools—including Logic Scoring of Preference (LSP) and optimization frameworks—to support smarter, more transparent investments in land conservation. Whether working on military base buffering, urban park acquisition, salt marsh restoration, or ecosystem service valuation, my goal is to translate complex environmental data into actionable, fundable solutions.As co-author of The Science of Strategic Conservation, I’ve helped advance a science- and economics-informed approach to conservation. I’ve also served as co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Conservation Planning, co-founded the Society for Conservation GIS, and received awards from Esri, the American Planning Association, and the American Society of Landscape Architects.If you’re seeking practical, data-backed strategies for land use planning, climate adaptation, or conservation prioritization, I’m always open to connecting. Let’s explore how strategic planning can help you do more with less—and deliver lasting environmental and community value.

Experience

1. Project Director (Sentinel Landscapes & Sasmi)

   LegacyWorks Group

   Jun 2023 — Present

   As a project manager and provider of land use planning assistance, I support key national and regional conservation initiatives that help align ecological, economic, and military readiness goals. Through my work with the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership and the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI), I help design and implement cross-sector frameworks that protect working lands and vital ecosystems while supporting national security and community resilience.For the Sentinel Landscapes Support Organization, I guide development of landscape-scale implementation plans and tailored technical assistance in Eastern North Carolina, SC Lowcountry, Georgia, Avon Park & NW Florida, Tidewater & Potomac Virginia, Kittatinny Ridge PA, and beyond. These efforts integrate help align conservation and compatible land use around military installations—enhancing both mission sustainment and environmental stewardship.I also serve as Project Manager for a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) grant on behalf of SASMI, a regional collaboration dedicated to preserving over one million acres of salt marsh from North Carolina to northeast Florida. These efforts exemplify my commitment to ensure that conservation strategies are actionable, data-informed, and locally grounded, with a desire for multi-benefit outcomes that bridge defense, conservation, and community resilience goals.

Education

• Stanford University

  BA, Urban Studies

  1989 — 1993

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  MRP, City and Regional Planning

  1993 — 1995

Skills

• Gis
• Arcinfo
• Project Planning
• Green Infrastructure
• Cartography
• Geographic Information Systems (Gis)
• Economic Development
• Geomatics
• Ecology
• Planning
• Regional Planning
• Mitigation
• Gis Analysis
• Arcview
• Arcgis
• Strategic Planning
• Watershed Management
• Esri
• Land Use Planning
• Climate Change
• Sustainability
• Sustainable Development
• Environmental
• Spatial Analysis
• Conservation Issues
• Land Use
• Environmental Policy
• Natural Resources
• Geospatial
• Land Conservation
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Planning
• Arcmap