NEW GLOUCESTER – The Royal River Conservation Trust, a regional land and water conservation organization serving the 12 communities of the Royal River watershed, has recently hired Julie Franklin of Cumberland to serve as its stewardship coordinator.

For the next year, grants from the Maine Coast Protection Initiative, the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, LL Bean Maine Land Trust Grant and individual donors will fund the position.

Franklin has nearly 10 years of experience in the environmental field and she has a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University.

Royal River Conservation Trust’s roots date back to 1992 when it formed as the Friends of the Royal River. In the spring 2006, it merged with the Yarmouth Land Trust, the North Yarmouth Land Trust and the New Gloucester Preservation Trust under its new name. The trust has a vision to create connected greenways and preserves from Sabbathday Lake to the sea. For more information, visit www.rrct.org.