Mission

Arizona Land and Water Trust protects Southern Arizona’s vanishing western landscapes, its farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, and the waters that sustain them. In addition to our role as land steward, we also support programs that carry out our purpose, including appropriate legislation, public education and outreach. We believe the preservation of Southern Arizona’s landscapes and ecosystems to be vital to the well-being of all residents, present and future.

Since 1978, we have protected more than 73,250  acres through conservation easements, donations and fee acquisition. In 1985 the Trust was instrumental in establishing legislation in Arizona enabling conservation easements.

The Team

Cameron Becker
Executive Director

I am a fourth generation Tucsonan and I grew up exploring and enjoying the outdoors from the Sky Islands down to the Sea of Cortez. My work with the Trust allows me the opportunity to make a difference in these open spaces and working landscapes. I couldn’t ask to work with a better team of people who share my passion for conserving the legacy and resources that make our community such an amazing place to live.

Susan Frett
Land and Water Program Director

I grew up in the Midwest and have always loved wildlife and spending time in nature. My career has focused on connecting people to nature through hands-on action. After earning my master’s degree in Environmental Conservation from the University of Wisconsin, I joined the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. There I helped to launch one of the largest community science programs in the country, Snapshot Wisconsin. In that role, I traveled throughout the state working with volunteer landowners to monitor wildlife on their properties. 

In early 2020, I moved to Maui, where I worked at Maui Invasive Species Committee helping landowners manage invasive species. I later joined Pacific Whale Foundation, where I led conservation, education and outreach programs that removed large-scale marine debris from the Maui coastline and supported community stewardship. I am excited to learn more about the landscapes and communities of Southern Arizona and look forward to playing a role in their protection.
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Andrew Quarles
Stewardship Manager
A love of nature has always driven me to get outside to explore my surroundings. I grew up along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia but in 2016 took a 13,000-mile road-trip across the US which exposed me to the diverse environments this continent has to offer. I feel lucky to be working with such an effective organization and motivated team to conserve the unique Sonoran landscape so the many cultures who call this place home can continue to enjoy it for generations to come.
Yvonne Resendez
Land Program Manager
Land and water is the motivation behind many pursuits in my life. Years ago I began my career as an AmeriCorps member working for the Forest Service, where I had the opportunity to perform fisheries surveys on wild rivers. That sparked my passion for water, and it led me to seasonal work on the Verde River in Central Arizona. Hydrologists there inspired me to attend the University of Arizona, where I received my degree in Natural Resources with a focus on Watershed Hydrology, all while working in the Coronado National Forest.
For years now, I have worked in Southern Arizona with landowners, ranchers, and rural communities focused on sustainable land management. While my professional career has taken me to many places in North and South America, my recreational career as a Divemaster has taken me to numerous exotic locations in my quest for warm water scuba diving. However, there is nothing quite like the beauty in the biodiversity we have here in the Sonoran Desert and the Sky Islands. I am excited to be a part of this team to help conserve our land and water.
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Kristin Leger
Land and Water Program Assistant

Born and raised in Arizona, I earned a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona before serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru. In 2020, I received a Master’s in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University. My love for the Sonoran Desert ultimately brought me back to Tucson. From wildfire mitigation in Colorado to grassroots community organizing in rural Peru, my work has reinforced the importance of the relationship between people and the land. I’m grateful to be a part of an organization that values Arizona’s natural resources and the communities that steward them.

The Board

The Trust is currently seeking an Administrative Assistant. Please see the job description here.