WASHINGTON, D.C. June 12, 2026 - EcoAgriculture Partners, a pioneering organization that reshaped the global sustainability and integrated land management (ILM) conversation over the course of two decades, today announced that the organization is entering the final stage of its lifecycle. As part of this evolution, the organization will execute an operational wind-down through September 2026, completing existing program work with quality, on time and on budget.
Dr. Sara Scherr and Jeffrey McNeely founded EcoAgriculture Partners in 2005 to challenge traditional silos in conservation and agriculture. Under Scherr's 20 years of leadership, EcoAgriculture Partners catalyzed the international ILM movement. EcoAgriculture Partners launched the collaborative initiatives 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People and Landscapes for People, Food and Nature, while nurturing sustainable landscape principles across more than 60 countries.
"EcoAgriculture Partners has achieved its founding mission: we have successfully launched ILM into the global discourse and built an enduring legacy. As we celebrate these successes, the board has determined that it is time to gracefully bring the organization's journey to its natural conclusion," said board chair Jeannette Tramhel.
Following the 2025 departure of founding CEO Dr. Sara Scherr, Graham Wood stepped in as CEO and President to oversee organizational stabilization. Wood will transition to the Board of Directors on June 15, 2026, handing day-to-day leadership to Heidi I. Jones, who has served as Director of Finance and Operations since 2024, to serve as interim CEO through the transition.
"I am so happy to have worked with such extraordinary people and to have worked within an enabling and respectful culture," Wood said. He noted that the landscape of international development has changed significantly in recent times. The decolonization debate, the global funding infrastructure as well as the collapse of USAID have had their impact. EcoAgriculture Partners also has historic debts and a long-term absence of reserves. "The headwinds and our desire to close on a positive note are in harmony," he added.
"EcoAgriculture Partners' legacy belongs to our exceptional staff, our global partners and all of those who have worked closely with us. Our goal over the coming months is to ensure that EcoAg's 21 years of impact are celebrated and disseminated," Jones said. "We are focused on a graceful and compliant wind-down that showcases EcoAg's groundbreaking ILM program legacy while minimizing risk, supporting our staff well, and preserving long-term relationships with our partners." Jones noted that the EcoAgriculture.org website will undergo a deep redesign to showcase our 20+ years of work and will be maintained for five years.
About EcoAgriculture Partners
EcoAgriculture Partners (EcoAg) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling people, nature, and local economies to thrive in equitable and sustainable ways through Integrated Landscape Management. For more than 20 years, EcoAg has cultivated collaborative action with communities, local leaders, governments, civil society, and the private sector to protect and restore ecosystems, enhance natural resource governance, and advance climate resilience and shared prosperity. EcoAg's experts work in landscapes across Africa, the Americas, and Asia to support lasting and scalable solutions that conserve the environment while boosting markets and livelihoods. Reflecting a commitment to multi-stakeholder collaboration and shared learning, EcoAg is a founding partner of 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People and the Agroecology Coalition, and a charter member of the Global Landscape Forum.
Media Contact:
Heidi I. Jones
EcoAgriculture Partners
+1-202-643-5605