AUBURN — A veteran river ecologist who has been involved with the Androscoggin Land Trust for 14 years will take over staff leadership of the organization.

Michael Auger, former director of Land Protection and Stewardship, was promoted to executive director of the regional conservation organization, according to news release issued Friday.

“No one could be better-suited for the position,” land trust board President Judy Marden said in the release. “Mike knows the land trust inside out. He has great relationships with our landowners, partners, members and volunteers. Through his many years with the land trust, he has earned the trust of the board and the community. We are delighted that he will put his experience to work in this new capacity.”

Auger replaces Jonathan LaBonte, who stepped down in June to join Gov. Paul LePage’s administration as director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management.

The land trust protects natural areas, landscapes and outdoor experiences within the Androscoggin River watershed by promoting stewardship and supporting a network of publicly and privately held conservation land. Androscoggin Land Trust conserves nearly 4,850 acres, including over 10 miles of riverfront along the Androscoggin River.

An Auburn native, Auger graduated from the University of Maine in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in natural resources, concentrating on ecology and natural resources.

He worked as a consulting ecologist with the Nature Conservancy and the Maine Natural Areas Program, until joining the land trust as director of Land Protection and Stewardship in 2006. He also served on the land trust’s board of directors from 2000 to 2005.

“We were fortunate to be able to hire Mike formally in 2006, and even more fortunate to hire him as executive director now,” Doug Boyd, land trust board member and chairman of the Stewardship Committee, said in the news release. “He has grown through the ranks to this position and has a deep understanding of land conservation.”

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