Jesica Blake Takes Helm at Coastal Land Trust | Wilmington News

Jesica Blake is stepping into the role of executive director at the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, bringing decades of experience to protect the state’s most vulnerable coastal lands amid surging development. Since joining in 2002, she’s ready to build on the trust’s legacy—having saved nearly 92,000 acres, including iconic sites like “The Point” and historic landmarks such as Reaves Chapel. Her focus? Strengthening public access and prioritizing biologically critical areas without changing the core mission: saving land before it’s lost. With coastal counties booming and housing demands rising, Blake’s team is navigating tough compromises—like the Sledge Forest deal that balanced conservation with limited development. Amid political divides, she sees conservation as a rare unifier, buoyed by bipartisan support for funding initiatives like the N.C. Land and Water Fund. The future looks promising for preserving North Carolina’s coast for generations to come. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/be6e8593b4337d7c