Faces of Greenbelt: Vanessa Johnson-Hall, Director of Land Conservation

Growing up on Cape Cod during the height of a building boom, Vanessa Johnson-Hall watched firsthand as large swaths of open space were transformed into subdivisions, shopping malls, and parking lots. Even at an early age, she recognized the harm being done to the environment by this unchecked development and felt a calling to do something about it. Now, several decades into a successful career in land conservation, it’s clear Vanessa was able to channel her keen childhood instincts into lasting, impactful action.

A dedicated member of Greenbelt’s conservation team for nearly 14 years, Vanessa has been a part of protecting a diverse array of properties across Essex County. Notable achievements include her work at Brown Spring Farm in West Newbury, where she skillfully blended land affordability and conservation strategies to support young, next generation farmers in acquiring property. At Lynn Woods, she collaborated with state and local partners to permanently protect what was one of the first — and for a time the largest — municipal parks in America.

Vanessa has also devoted substantial time to protecting land in the Merrimack Valley, spearheading projects in Amesbury, Haverhill, Merrimac, and West Newbury over the past decade. These efforts have greatly increased Greenbelt’s visibility and presence in the northern and western regions of the county.

“I’m proud to be part of each and every conservation project, both large and small, because they’re all part of the greater goal to preserve the landscapes that nurture us in this region,” says Vanessa. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help landowners, communities, and our many partners to turn their conservation visions into reality.”

Protecting agricultural land is an area of particular interest, as many of the largest parcels in Essex County are owned by farmers in their 60s or older, often without successors. “These lands are especially vulnerable, because they are already cleared of trees, have flat terrain, and feature road frontage — qualities that make them prime targets for development,” she explains. Preserving them is vital for safeguarding the region’s agricultural economy and maintaining a reliable source of fresh, local food.

A strong believer in equitable land access, Vanessa is actively seeking ways to integrate more voices into Greenbelt’s conservation effort to ensure that everyone in the region benefits from its conservation programming.

Outside work, Vanessa leads a very active lifestyle and enjoys backpacking, trail running, cycling, kayaking, and cross-country skiing in locations near and far. She and her husband also enjoy getting off the grid and exploring the Rocky and Sierra Nevada mountains as well as the national parks of the Southwest.

A graduate of UMass Amherst and the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Vanessa has been involved in a range of conservation efforts over the course of her career, including initiatives to protect Coho salmon in Oregon and grizzly bears in Montana, prior to joining the Greenbelt team.