The People of the Land Trust: Aparna Reddy

Aparna Reddy, the new Board President of the Truckee Donner Land Trust – chose to support the Land Trust’s work both because of her time growing up in the region, and because of her time away.

“I was born and raised in Reno, and I grew up going to Donner Lake and Tahoe to ski, hike, and enjoy the beaches, so this has been my backyard my whole life,” Reddy said. “I went away for college and law school, but when I had the opportunity to move back full time in 2016, I knew this area was home to me, and it has the atmosphere I want to foster in the outdoors.”

That unique perspective gives her both a lifelong understanding of the Truckee-Donner region and a fresh-eyed perspective at the same time. For Reddy – an accomplished outdoors person who enjoys hiking, skiing and biking on Land Trust lands and trails – it boils down to protecting open space.

“I love doing all those things, but just having open space available for everyone is such a huge necessity for recharging mentally, spiritually and physically,” Reddy said. “Everybody who lives here or visits here – they’re here for the land, to see the wildlife, to recreate, and without the Land Trust a lot of that would not be possible.”

The last 12 months have reaffirmed that priority, Reddy said, with more people enjoying nature since the pandemic began.

“COVID really brought to light the need for open space, the ability to be outside and to be able to recharge,” she said.

And with the recent birth of her son, Reddy also sees conservation as vitally important to the future. 

“The fact that before the age of one he’s come across a bear, deer, bald eagle, and a coyote in the wild      is amazing, and I want all children to have that opportunity now and in the future,” Reddy said.

To join Aparna in supporting the Land Trust’s work, click here.

Note: This is the first in a series of stories the Land Trust will tell over the coming months about the people that make our organization tick – from board members and staff members to volunteers.