Frederic C. Rich

Fred Rich "is chair of Scenic Hudson's Board of Directors. A Hudson Valley resident since 1989, Mr. Rich is a partner with the New York City-based law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where he is co-head of the firm's corporate practice. He has been a member of Scenic Hudson's board since 1991 and has served as chair of its land conservation arm, The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, since 1993.

"In 2001 Mr. Rich played a lead role in negotiating a transfer of assets from The Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Fund for the Hudson Highlands -- which had funded Scenic Hudson's land preservation work for 18 years -- to Scenic Hudson. Direct control of the funds helped ensure the ongoing stability and continuity of Scenic Hudson's efforts to create special places along the river where people can connect with its inspiring majesty.

"Mr. Rich has been deeply involved with a number of other Hudson Valley organizations, including The Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environment Research, The Battery Conservancy, The Hudson Highland Land Trust, Friends of the Palisades Park Commission and Boscobel Restoration.

"A collector of Hudson River books and ephemera, Fred also is an amateur musician who composed the world's first "environmental oratorio," The Hudson Oratorio, premiered and recorded in 1996.

"He first pursued an interest in the environment and land conservation as an undergraduate at Princeton University. He received a grant to study European environmental and conservation laws in France, and his resulting work, Law and Contemporary Preservation: Protecting Privately Owned Cultural Property, received the senior thesis award from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs."

• Director, Land Trust Alliance