The International Wildlife Refuge Alliance (IWRA) is pleased to announce that it has hired Lisa Appel as its Executive Director.  Appel is a trained botanist and is the author of the highly acclaimed biodiversity atlas titled “Explore Our Natural World: A Biodiversity Atlas of the Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor.” 

She also has four years of practical experience as a wildlife biologist with Wildlife Habitat Council and, most recently, four years of experience with the Pine River Nature Center in St. Clair County, Michigan.  Ms. Appel was selected from a broad range of candidates and will begin work in July. 

She will be co-located with staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at their office at the Large Lakes Research Station on Grosse Ile, Michigan. 

“We are truly honored to have someone of Lisa Appel’s stature become our International Wildlife Refuge Alliance Executive Director,” notes Chairman George Mans.  “We look forward to working closely with Lisa to connect people to our refuge, help improve quality of life, and provide an exceptional conservation experience in southeast Michigan.” 

The IWRA is an alliance of organizations that builds the capacity of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deliver its mission for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.  IWRA is an independent, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization established to help protect wildlife and support wildlife dependent recreational uses like hunting, fishing, photography, wildlife observation, interpretation, and environmental education. 

The mission of the IWRA is to support the first International Wildlife Refuge in North America by working through partnerships to protect, conserve and manage the refuge’s wildlife and habitats, and to create exceptional conservation, recreational and educational experiences to develop the next generation of conservation stewards.

Major IWRA funding partners in 2007 include ITC Transmission, BASF Corporation, DTE Energy Foundation, General Motors Corporation, and Praxair.