Royal River Conservation Trust Appoints Chris Franklin as Executive Director

Royal River Conservation Trust (RRCT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Franklin as executive director. Franklin’s career in Maine and New England encompasses 19 years in non-profit land trust work, including 11  years as the inaugural executive director of Cape Elizabeth Land Trust and 6  years with Maine Farmland Trust. He is also the founder and chief baker for Badger Bagels, a well-known gluten-free baked goods company.

“The RRCT Board of Directors looks forward to working with Chris as our executive director,” said Board President Rob Greenleaf. “He brings deep land trust leadership experience to the Royal River watershed and is well-positioned to lead RRCT as we work to preserve and steward land from the Royal’s headwaters in Sabbathday Lake to Littlejohn Island.”

Prior to his work in Maine, Chris served as a research associate with Alaska Community Action on Toxics, project director with The Brower Fund at Earth Island Institute, and outreach coordinator at Earth Island Institute. He received his degree in geography with a concentration in environmental conservation from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Chris shared, “The work of land trusts in Maine has never been more important. I have great respect for Royal River Conservation Trust’s work and its engagement with the community. RRCT’s investment in the health and protection of the watershed shows a commitment to excellence. I look forward to collaborating with the RRCT board and the Trust’s many stakeholders to protect land and natural resources in the watershed, especially as we plan for the removal of Yarmouth’s two dams.”

Chris, who lives in North Yarmouth, enjoys exploring the Royal River watershed with his wife and three children. He will begin as RRCT’s executive director on Feb. 24, 2025.