{"id":32367,"date":"2022-06-22T13:00:53","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T20:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.savetheredwoods.org\/?page_id=32367"},"modified":"2026-02-20T12:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T20:49:45","slug":"our-experts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.savetheredwoods.org\/what-we-do\/our-experts\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet our experts<\/h2>\n
Our experts are available for speaking engagements and interviews. To learn more, please contact redwoods@landispr.com<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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\"Adrianna<\/div>\n
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Adrianna Andreucci<\/h3>\n

Land Protection Manager II<\/h4>\n

Adrianna Andreucci grew up in Auburn, California in the foothills of the Sierra, but as a child, she spent many summers in the coast redwood forest of Humboldt Redwoods State Park with her father.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

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Today, as land protection manager for Save the Redwoods League, she works directly to help protect those trees, guiding the sale of land and negotiating conservation easements between landowners and the League. She also interfaces with public agencies as the League transfers ownership of acquired properties to the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, and other agencies. <\/p>\n

Andreucci earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies and Planning from Sonoma State in 2011. One of her positions after graduating was with the Greenbelt Alliance, an environmental advocacy group that promotes smart growth development and the preservation of open space. Andreucci joined the League in 2017, where she served as a conservation programs assistant & associate before moving into her current position in April 2021. <\/p>\n

Andreucci appreciates the multi-faceted nature of her work, but she especially enjoys the special relationships she builds with landowners who have chosen to protect their land in perpetuity by selling it to the League or holding it in a conservation easement. <\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the League\u2019s ownership, we get to steward, manage, and nurture purchased property,\u201d says Andreucci. \u201cBut partnering with landowners to keep land under their ownership\u2014often lands that have been in a family for generations\u2014while still making sure that sound management endures is really special.\u201d <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a long-term relationship, and often the process can take years. Andreucci helps the League identify priority properties\u2014redwood and giant sequoia lands with significant conservation value\u2014but she also works with landowners who reach out directly. <\/p>\n

This long-term impact is what drew Andreucci to her position. \u201cI never thought I could have a career spending time in the places I love, doing work to ensure the protection of those places,\u201d she says. \u201cI can say after it\u2019s done that this piece of land will be protected forever. It connects me to these places in a deeper way.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Ben<\/div>\n
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Ben Blom<\/h3>\n

Director of Stewardship and Restoration<\/h4>\n

With more than 15 years of restoration and forest management experience and a Master of Forestry from the Yale School of the Environment, Ben Blom serves as the League\u2019s director of stewardship and restoration. He leads the League\u2019s large-scale projects designed to rehabilitate California\u2019s iconic coast redwood and giant sequoia forests. These include Redwoods Rising<\/strong><\/a>, which strives to restore tens of thousands of acres of historically clearcut forests in Redwood National and State Parks. He also oversees the care and management of all League-owned lands, such as Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve<\/strong><\/a> and Alder Creek<\/strong><\/a>, and the League\u2019s portfolio of conservation easements.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

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One of Blom\u2019s priorities is leading the League\u2019s work with the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition<\/strong><\/a>, a multi-partner collaboration dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of giant sequoia ecosystems. \u201cGiant sequoias are some of the most awe-inspiring and iconic trees on the planet,\u201d he says. \u201cYet they are vulnerable to high-severity, climate-driven wildfires. It feels like an existential crisis, and at the same time, I’m energized to see our coalition mobilizing to do the work to protect our sequoia groves.\u201d <\/p>\n

Prior to joining the League, Blom worked for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for 12 years, most recently overseeing restoration and management operations across 300,000 acres of public land in 10 Central California counties. While at BLM, Blom partnered with the League on various projects. \u201cI was excited to join Save the Redwoods League because it\u2019s guided by science and its mission in a very pure way,\u201d Blom says. \u201cI also appreciate the League\u2019s long-term and unwavering commitment to the restoration and stewardship of redwood forests.\u201d <\/p>\n

Even in his spare time, Blom is always in the forest. \u201cWorking among the largest trees in the world is a dream come true. But I also live in the redwoods,\u201d he says. \u201cSeeing the resilience and beauty of these trees\u2014the awe that you feel when you’re in a redwood forest\u2014I think that’s why everybody connects with our mission so closely. You don’t have to explain our mission for very long to somebody before they understand why we need to protect and restore redwoods.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Jessica<\/div>\n
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Jessica Carter<\/h3>\n

Senior Program Director<\/h4>\n

Jessica Carter\u2019s career is grounded in the importance of outdoor access for our collective wellbeing. She joined Save the Redwoods League as director of parks and community engagement in 2018 after spending a decade with the National Park Service. There, she served as chief of business management at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, growing partnerships to enhance visitor access and community programs. She also led partnership development for a $38 million Alcatraz embarkation site and visitor welcome center.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll never forget the first time I went to Muir Woods National Monument after starting my job with the National Park Service. Being surrounded by the majestic redwoods in the deep quiet of the forest was powerful,\u201d says Carter. <\/p>\n

Carter received her M.B.A. in Strategic Management, Sustainability\/Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of California, Davis and her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. Her expertise in managing nonprofit, commercial, and interagency partnerships helps the League expand and improve redwood parks and deliver resonant access, interpretation, and education programs. She oversees this integrated approach to redwoods access on key properties currently owned by the League, including \u2018O Rew, Alder Creek, and Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve. <\/p>\n

Carter\u2019s work engages communities that have historically been underrepresented in the conservation movement and that have faced barriers to enjoying parks and nature. By closely collaborating with park agencies, Tribes, and diverse communities, Carter helps the League provide meaningful opportunities to connect with the redwoods. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs the world becomes increasingly diverse and complex, everyone deserves the chance to experience redwood forests because people have always been an integral part of the redwoods ecosystem,\u201d says Carter. \u201cBridging equity gaps not only serves conservation, but also plays a key role in the wellness and prosperity of our society at large. Fostering inclusive and inspiring experiences in the outdoors is foundational to the League\u2019s mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Anthony<\/div>\n
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Anthony Casta\u00f1os<\/h3>\n

Senior Land Stewardship Manager<\/h4>\n

As land stewardship manager for Save the Redwoods League, Anthony Casta\u00f1os oversees all the League\u2019s held properties and conservation easements, which are scattered throughout California\u2019s redwood range from the Oregon border to Big Sur. Casta\u00f1os develops and manages stewardship and ecological restoration projects across more than 50,000 acres, including properties like the Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve and San Vicente Redwoods. He is often out in the forest, monitoring restoration work, seeking grant funding for these projects, and helping restoration teams address an evolving understanding of what it takes to preserve land.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\u201cFor most of the past 100 years, Save the Redwoods League bought land, transferred ownership to an agency, and considered it protected,\u201d he explains. \u201cBut with climate change, the accumulation of fire fuels in forests, and the need to incorporate Indigenous people\u2019s historic land management practices, we\u2019ve realized these lands can\u2019t just be left alone once purchased.\u201d <\/p>\n

The scope and intensity of wildfires in recent years is the driving motivation for his land stewardship work. The biggest focus is on fuels reduction\u2014crews in the forest doing the time-consuming but necessary work of thinning small trees and removing \u201cladder fuels\u201d that carry fire up trees to the canopy. The thinning work is followed up by prescribed burning to consume the remaining fuel load on the forest floor. <\/p>\n

The most challenging part of Casta\u00f1os\u2019 work is finding the right conditions for prescribed burns. \u201cWhile fire always has inherent risks, conducting prescribed burns as safely as possible means working under optimal conditions, such as the right weather and winds,\u201d says Casta\u00f1os. The right partners are also essential; during a successful burn in 2024 at the Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve, Casta\u00f1os collaborated with the local tribe and community members. \u201cIt really helps to work with local crews so we can remain flexible and respond quickly when the conditions align.\u201d <\/p>\n

Casta\u00f1os earned a B.A. in Urban Studies from the University of California, Berkeley.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Cecilia<\/div>\n
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Cecilia Cordova<\/h3>\n

Conservation Finance Director<\/h4>\n

Cecilia Cordova uses her financial skills to create sustainable conservation impact. She earned her Master of Business Administration from Warwick Business School, and her Master of Science in Finance and Bachelor of Business from Universidad de Lima, Per\u00fa.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\u201cI\u2019ve spent my career crafting deals that prove nature is our most valuable asset,\u201d says Cordova. \u201cThe opportunity to bring that global experience home to California\u2019s redwoods is a full circle moment for me.\u201d <\/p>\n

Cordova joined Save the Redwoods League as conservation finance director, bringing more than a decade of experience designing and executing conservation finance strategies and large-scale land transactions. This includes her time spent serving as investment director at Mirova, where she guided private equity investments in land restoration, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation in Latin America. <\/p>\n

Across her career, Cordova has utilized financial modeling, stewardship planning, and innovative investment structuring to benefit industries dependent on healthy landscapes. As fund advisor of Regenera Ventures, Mexico\u2019s first equity agriculture fund, she designed investment strategies around regenerative and climate-centered agriculture, as well as carbon credit monetization. In other past roles, she led negotiations with timber companies, real estate investors, and public agencies to align financial returns with conservation outcomes. <\/p>\n

As conservation finance director, Cordova advances Save the Redwoods\u2019 long-term efforts to conserve coast redwood and giant sequoia forests by designing and implementing financing strategies for landscape-scale initiatives. Her successful background of mobilizing capital for nature-based solutions, extensive experience in impact investment, and her sophisticated understanding of carbon markets helps Save the Redwoods\u2019 conservation programs and acquisitions remain financially resilient. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to apply my expertise to help protect and restore redwood forests,\u201d says Cordova. \u201cThese forests are the world\u2019s most effective climate giants, and my work bridges the gap between institutional capital and landscape-level restoration to ensure they will thrive for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Ben<\/div>\n
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Ben Friedman<\/h3>\n

Director of Government Affairs & Public Funding<\/h4>\n

Ben Friedman has dedicated his career to advocating for the conservation of public lands. He earned his Master of environmental management from Yale University\u2019s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and his B.A. in geological studies from Brown University. <\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

\nPrior to joining Save the Redwoods League, Friedman served as the California program manager at the Western Conservation Foundation. He acted as the national conservation lands coordinator for The Wilderness Society, facilitating advocacy for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and coordinating a coalition that influenced the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s environmental and fiscal policies. Friedman also staffed the Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee for chair Jim Costa, D-CA, in the House Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. <\/p>\n

\u201cI love working to protect the redwood range because it reminds us all about time\u2014that these forests were here long before us and can provide joy for future generations to come,\u201d says Friedman. <\/p>\n

Friedman has shepherded public grants and handled government affairs issues since arriving at the League in 2022. He contributed to the League\u2019s efforts to aid passage of CA-Proposition 4, which significantly bolstered state funding for climate resilience, wildfire prevention, drinking water quality, and natural resource management. His work helped the League raise crucial funds to get Prop 4 on the ballot and championed the bond to state legislators, Governor Gavin Newsom\u2019s administration, and voters. Friedman has also secured public funding grants for many of the League\u2019s major initiatives, including the restoration of \u2018O Rew Redwoods Gateway, the protection of Lost Coast Redwoods, and work aiding giant sequoia fire resilience. <\/p>\n

Today, as director of government affairs and public funding, Friedman oversees and implements all aspects of the League\u2019s public policy and public funding activities to support the League\u2019s programmatic goals. He manages the League\u2019s public grants program and elevates redwood and giant sequoia conservation efforts with land management agencies and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy work allows me to find alignment between the League\u2019s conservation priorities and decisionmakers\u2019 policy goals,\u201d says Friedman. \u201cFinding common ground on behalf of the redwoods is always rewarding.\u201d\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Matthew<\/div>\n
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Matthew Gomez<\/h3>\n

Senior Parks Program Manager<\/h4>\n

Matthew Gomez has always wanted to help shape park experiences. As a teenager, his first job was with his local Parks and Recreation department in Michigan, running community events and helping maintain recreation spaces. Today, as senior parks program manager for Save the Redwoods League, he leads all aspects of the League\u2019s Parks Program, including project management and infrastructure planning in redwood parks.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\u201cParks are some of the few places where everyone is welcome,\u201d says Gomez. \u201cI get to think strategically about the grand design of parks, while also focusing on the little details\u2014how people interact with parks and ways we can create experiences that they\u2019ll take home as life-long memories.\u201d <\/p>\n

Gomez holds a B.A. in Education from the University of Michigan and a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago. Prior to joining the League, he garnered over 15 years of planning and project management experience, including planning naval facilities in the Washington D.C. area, managing park development for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and planning a variety of real estate projects in Chicago. Gomez also managed land use projects for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois, supervising trail review committees and working on infrastructure projects. <\/p>\n

In his role with the League, Gomez develops and implements pragmatic approaches to complex projects that improve recreational infrastructure in state, national, and local redwood parks and on League properties. By shepherding the planning, design, funding, and construction stages of capital projects in redwood parks, Gomez keeps these projects moving smoothly while coordinating and maintaining strong bonds with key partners, including the California Department of Parks and Recreation, tribal partners, and other public land agencies. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spent most of my career building spaces accessible to everyone, especially those who don\u2019t have many safe spaces,\u201d says Gomez. \u201cMy oldest son has a profound disability, and I want to make sure that he and others like him are able to visit beautiful outdoor spaces like the redwoods and be inspired by nature.\u201d <\/p>\n

Gomez\u2019s work helps provide inclusive and inspirational park experiences to all who visit, while also protecting the integrity of redwood forests. He also leads public access planning on League properties and proactively seeks out opportunities to improve park designs.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Mitchell<\/div>\n
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Mitchell Hayes<\/h3>\n

Partnership Manager<\/h4>\n

Mitchell Hayes grew up in Santa Cruz County, on the southern end of the redwood range. After receiving a B.S. in Project Management from California State University, Chico, he spent several years working in park and campground operations, including seasonal appointments with Placer County and California State Parks. Eager to apply his skills to protecting natural resources, he went back to school, earning an M.B.A. in Strategic Sustainability from Cal Poly Humboldt before joining Save the Redwoods League as project manager in 2021.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

\nIn this role, Hayes administers Redwoods Rising, a collaborative effort between the League, the National Park Service, and California State Parks\u202fto accelerate redwood forest recovery and protect remaining old-growth groves within Redwood National and State Parks. He views himself as the administrative backbone and financial expert among the partners, which requires a lot of communication. <\/p>\n

\u201cA huge component of my job is ensuring long-term success for Redwoods Rising, with both the partners and funders of the project,\u201d says Hayes. \u201cI do this by providing financial recommendations to partners, aligning funding needs, and navigating the complex contracting structure of the project.\u201d <\/p>\n

The restoration work coordinated under Redwoods Rising is aimed at rehabilitating crowded second-growth forests, restoring streams, and removing the many miles of abandoned logging roads to improve forest health and habitat. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s gratifying to be part of a transformation, as forests that were exposed to clearcutting practices are restored back to good health,\u201d says Hayes. \u201cAnd knowing, too, that old-growth forests help with carbon sequestration, and that restoration work helps increase wildfire resilience and provides socioeconomic benefits to the North Coast. Sharing this knowledge and keeping such a large-scale project moving is one of the most important parts of my job.\u201d <\/p>\n

Currently, about $80 million in public funds has been committed to Redwoods Rising. Hayes is tasked with planning and tracking budgets with all the granting agencies. His natural proclivity for understanding different points of view makes him particularly well-suited as the administrator of this complex collaborative partnership.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Laura<\/div>\n
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Laura Lalemand<\/h3>\n

Senior Scientist<\/h4>\n

Laura Lalemand\u2019s love for the outdoors led her to earn a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maine at Farmington. After graduating, she took a position as a biological science technician with the U.S. Geological Survey. There she worked on projects focused on tree growth, mortality, drought response, and restoration in forests across the Sierra Nevada, northern California, and southern Oregon. She went on to earn an M.S. in Forestry from Humboldt State University.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

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Lalemand joined Save the Redwoods League as a forest fellow in 2016 and was later hired as a forest ecologist in 2018. She is now the senior scientist on the League\u2019s Science team. <\/p>\n

\u201cThrough our science programs and initiatives, we conduct and collaborate on a wide range of redwood research across the range,\u201d says Lalemand. \u201cThis research is critical to better understanding redwood forests and guiding our conservation, restoration, and stewardship activities. I find this work incredibly meaningful and increasingly important as climate change, wildfires, and other emerging threats continue to impact redwood forests.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lalemand has contributed to research on several forest studies, including: the impacts of controlled burning on western forests; coast redwood drought response following restoration; and the long-term dynamics of pitch pine forests in Maine. She currently serves on the board of the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association, the first such organization in California. At the League, she deeply appreciates how her job allows her to contribute to an all-encompassing vision of conservation. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe League is working toward a convergence of forest conservation, restoration, and land stewardship, and I find that incredibly exciting,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re not just working to restore and maintain redwood forests. We\u2019re working to conserve all the associated species that depend on redwood ecosystems. We\u2019re integrating in-stream aquatic restoration, road removal and soil stabilization, forest restoration\u2014everything that affects redwood ecosystems. And we\u2019re doing it as an equal partner with other agencies and groups, collaborating to define and sustain our long-term mission.\u201d\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Steve<\/div>\n
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Steve Mietz<\/h3>\n

President and CEO<\/h4>\n

Steve Mietz holds an M.S. in environmental studies from the University of Montana and a B.S. from Cornell University. Before becoming president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, Mietz garnered more than two decades of executive leadership and natural and cultural resources management experience across numerous national parks and recreational areas. His assignments included Redwood National and State Parks, Point Reyes National Seashore, Grand Canyon National Park, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Great Basin National Park and multiple regional directorships around the American West.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

\nIn these previous leadership roles, Mietz identified creative funding sources via state and local government agencies and nonprofits. He also established nonprofit park \u201cfriends groups,\u201d oversaw scientific research and large-scale landscape projects, and managed thousands of employees who stewarded millions of acres and visitors annually. Throughout his public service career, Mietz has forged innovative, sustainable programs and partnerships, especially in connection with tribal groups, that have yielded new models for managing public lands. <\/p>\n

During his time as superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP), Mietz partnered with Save the Redwoods League and California State Parks to establish and lead Redwoods Rising, an unprecedented public-private partnership to accelerate the pace and scale of restoration work across 70,000 acres of previously logged redwoods parkland. He also helped craft a first-of-its-kind agreement to establish a southern gateway to RNSP that the parks will co-manage with the Yurok Tribe on a property that the League will convey to tribal ownership in 2026. Mietz was named Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship by the National Park Service in 2022 for going above and beyond in protecting RNSP\u2019s natural resources. <\/p>\n

“My entire career has built to this crescendo\u2014leading Save the Redwoods League,” says Mietz. “I\u2019m honored and thrilled to carry forward the League\u2019s mission to protect and restore these extraordinary redwood forests for future generations. Building on more than a century of conservation leadership, I\u2019m excited to bring innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to meet today\u2019s challenges, seize new opportunities, and inspire a new generation of forest stewards to help revive the redwood range.”\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Leslie<\/div>\n
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Leslie Parra<\/h3>\n

Senior Manager of Community Engagement<\/h4>\n

Leslie Parra has achieved recognition for her leadership in community civic action, STEM and environmental education, and DEI initiatives for over 15 years. Her professional calling is building enrichment programs with multicultural perspectives to expand inclusive public access to nature for all.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

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As Save the Redwoods League\u2019s senior manager of community engagement, Parra ensures that people of all backgrounds can not only benefit from the outdoors but also feel welcome in the natural spaces many take for granted. Immediately after joining the League, Parra began cultivating relationships with community groups and tribes to understand their interest in the redwoods. Since then, she has led the League\u2019s strategic outreach to forge relationships and programmatic partnerships with community-based organizations, public lands managers, and leaders within these diverse networks to connect them to coast redwood and giant sequoia forests. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve learned that good things always happen when the community expands,\u201d says Parra. \u201cWhen we grow the community around redwoods, it will benefit not only those who have been historically excluded, but also the parks and trees themselves.\u201d <\/p>\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Parra launched the League\u2019s podcast \u201cI\u2019ll Go If You Go,\u201d which features diverse conservation and outdoor recreation leaders. The series strives to build community through conservation while promoting redwood access for all. Parra continues to serve as executive producer. She also helps communities connect with local redwood parks through the Redwood Rides access program and in collaborative enrichment projects. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re trying to build relationships with new audiences, it\u2019s important to get out of your comfort zone and go where they are,\u201d says Parra. \u201cSticking to the old ways of doing things is how conservation organizations lost their trust with these communities in the first place.\u201d <\/p>\n

Parra earned a B.S. in Zoology from North Carolina State University and a M.S. in Biology from San Francisco State University. She also received the 2025 Community Partnership Award for Campus Collaboration from San Francisco State University and the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the university and the broader community. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Paul<\/div>\n
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Paul Ringgold<\/h3>\n

Chief Program Officer<\/h4>\n

Paul Ringgold has been an outdoor enthusiast his entire life and has worked in conservation and land management for more than 30 years. As the League\u2019s chief program officer, he oversees all land protection, stewardship, and forest restoration programs; public funding and policy engagement; park support; and education and interpretive programs. He also establishes specific priorities for the breadth of the League\u2019s programs.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen I went on a hike through the ancient redwood forest at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park about 10 years ago, it somehow crystallized my priorities,\u201d says Ringgold. \u201cI remember imagining how happy I\u2019d be if I could find a way to help preserve forests like these. It made me realize what I really wanted to do with the rest of my career.\u201d <\/p>\n

Prior to joining the League, Ringgold served as vice president of Land Stewardship for the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a forest policy analyst for the Pinchot Institute of Conservation, and a forest manager and research program director for the University of Washington. <\/p>\n

Ringgold holds a master\u2019s in Forest Science, Forest Policy and Rural Sociology from Yale University and a B.S. in Forest Resources Management from the University of Washington. In addition to his work at the League, he serves on the Boards of the California Council of Land Trusts. <\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, the restoration and ongoing preservation of the coast redwood and giant sequoia forests throughout their ranges remains the League\u2019s immutable goal,\u201d says Ringgold. \u201cWe must continue to adapt and evolve our approach to the challenges of the coming century, especially as we expand our purview to meet the challenges of climate change and accelerating natural resource demands.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Spencer<\/div>\n
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Spencer Stiff<\/h3>\n

Redwoods Rising Field Operations Manager<\/h4>\n

Spencer Stiff knows the forests and streams of California\u2019s North Coast intimately. He grew up near Willits, California, at the edge of the redwood belt, and earned a B.S. in Freshwater Fisheries from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2002. Before joining Save the Redwoods League in 2021, Stiff explored a diverse career as a fish biologist, hatchery manager, roads superintendent, and logging contracts administrator. During his many years with Green Diamond Resources Company, Stiff focused on road management and ensuring logging operations did not negatively impact fish and their habitat.<\/span>
\nRead more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n

\nToday, Stiff oversees the implementation of restoration activities as field operations manager for Redwoods Rising<\/a>, a collaboration between the League, California State Parks, and the National Park Service to restore more than 70,000 acres of previously logged coast redwood forest in Redwood National and State Parks. He is the project\u2019s on-the-ground point person, managing relationships with park inspectors and contractors and addressing challenges as they occur. Stiff also manages the logs generated from the project\u2019s restorative thinning activities. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was really interested in doing large-scale watershed restoration\u2014fully restoring these streams, removing old roads, and getting the crowded forests thinned back and into a healthy state,\u201d says Stiff. \u201cThese measures help reduce the chance of catastrophic wildfires and recreate old-growth forest conditions.\u201d <\/p>\n

Stiff\u2019s role with the League also enables him to spearhead work improving conditions for fish in redwood ecosystems. He oversees the decommissioning of former logging roads that haven\u2019t been used in decades, which stems soil erosion that can cloud creeks. <\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of these streams were completely buried by old roads and crossings,\u201d says Stiff. \u201cUnearthing these waterways and removing the fill material will allow gravel to move down the creeks into larger streams, where they can provide high-quality spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and other fish.\u201d <\/p>\n

Stiff is also implementing aquatic restoration projects, working with contractors to place whole logs with intact \u201croot wads\u201d into streams, where they can help slow the movement of water and create ideal habitat for young fish to thrive among the redwoods.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Jeff<\/div>\n
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Jeff Stump<\/h3>\n

Director of Land Protection<\/h4>\n

With more than three decades of expertise in land conservation, stewardship, and policy development, Jeff Stump brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his role at Save the Redwoods League. As the director of the League\u2019s land protection team, he maintains a portfolio of priority acquisition projects while providing leadership to the talented staff that negotiate and finalize redwood forest acquisitions and conservation easements, ensuring the continued protection of vital redwood ecosystems.<\/span>
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Stump holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from the University of California, Davis. His areas of expertise include conservation programs, land conservation funding, fee title acquisitions, conservation easements, and leading high-functioning teams. <\/p>\n

Stump\u2019s contributions to the League have been significant, taking on some of the organization\u2019s most public-facing and challenging projects. His recent work includes the protection of Monte Rio Redwoods and Russian River Redwoods in Sonoma County, crafting an agreement to acquire Sonoma Coast Redwoods, and working with Mendocino Redwoods Company on the Dark Gulch acquisition at Montgomery Woods. He is currently supporting the transfer of the \u2018O Rew property to the Yurok Tribe, working to resolve access and water issues at the League\u2019s Alder Creek property, collaborating with California State Parks to transfer several properties into their ownership, and working to secure new opportunities for redwood land protection at scale. <\/p>\n

Before joining the League in January 2022, Stump served as the director of conservation at the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT). He directed their easement acquisition and stewardship programs, provided strategic guidance on conservation priorities, and developed policy and funding models at local, state, and federal levels to support land conservation and stewardship. His efforts at MALT contributed to the protection of 29 family farms and ranches, covering more than 16,250 acres. <\/p>\n

Stump’s career also includes significant roles at the American Land Conservancy, where he handled some of the organization\u2019s most complex land transactions\u2014including protection of the Hearst Ranch\u2014and at the California Coastal Commission, where he was the Commission\u2019s legislative liaison. He has served on the board of the Marin Conservation League for six years, the Marin Carbon Project\u2019s steering committee, and contributed to the Bay Area Critical Linkages Project, now part of the Conservation Lands Network. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Chris Swanston<\/h3>\n

Director of Science<\/h4>\n

Chris Swanston, Ph.D., is a leader in climate science and forest conservation, translating complex science into practical conservation and management strategies. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Forest Science from Oregon State University and his B.S. in Forest Ecology and Soils from Cal Poly Humboldt.<\/span>
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\n\u201cI grew up in awe of the redwoods, enchanted by their beauty and complexity,\u201d says Dr. Swanston. \u201cAs a scientist, it is now fitting that I bring the tools of my trade to understand and foster resilience in these forests, while still feeling their magic in my heart.\u201d <\/p>\n

Dr. Swanston joined Save the Redwoods League as director of science after more than 18 years with the USDA Forest Service, where he held various leadership positions focused on climate science, forest ecology, and natural resource management. During his time with the Forest Service, Dr. Swanston pioneered collaborative approaches to help forest managers adapt to climate change. Later, he served as associate deputy chief for Forest Service Research and Development and a climate advisor leading the Office of Sustainability and Climate at the Forest Service’s national headquarters. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy commitment is to applied, climate-informed conservation and I\u2019m honored to advance science-based conservation strategies at Save the Redwoods League that ensure these iconic forests continue to thrive for future generations,\u201d says Dr. Swanston. <\/p>\n

For 14 years, Dr. Swanston directed the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, a public-private partnership providing climate assessment and adaptation services to a wide range of conservation and land management organizations, including federal, state, Tribal, county, industries, trusts, conservancies and other non-profits. As a project leader for the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, he managed a research work unit of 40 scientists, practitioners and support staff focused on fire management, climate impacts and adaptation and carbon cycling. His earlier work as a research ecologist and biogeochemist established his expertise in forest ecology and carbon cycling. <\/p>\n

As director of science, Dr. Swanston oversees high-quality scientific research, collaborating with Save the Redwoods\u2019 research team and partners to inform protection and restoration efforts throughout coast redwood and giant sequoia ecosystems. He guides Save the Redwoods\u2019 work in climate adaptation, translating complex science into actionable conservation strategies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Deborah Zierten<\/h3>\n

Senior Manager of Education and Interpretation<\/h4>\n

Growing up in Oakland, Deborah Zierten spent much of her free time exploring the East Bay\u2019s expansive redwood parks. After earning her B.A. in Biology at the University of Oregon and her Master\u2019s in Environmental Education at Southern Oregon University, Zierten began her career dedicated to instilling a love of nature in the hearts and minds of others.<\/span>
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\n\u201cThe redwood forest is where I feel most at home and where my heart is,\u201d says Zierten. Prior to joining Save the Redwoods League in 2013, she spent two decades introducing young people to nature while working at environmental education non-profits, as well as the National Park Service and the UC Cooperative Extension. As the senior manager of education and interpretation for the League, Zierten develops curricula, as well as educational and interpretation materials about the redwoods for the public. <\/p>\n

\u201cExposing people to nature when they are young is a great way to inspire a sense of awe and wonder for our redwood forests,\u201d says Zierten. Her education programming for students of all ages is in classrooms and redwood parks, as both are important ways to integrate environmental education into schools. These programs serve communities across the redwood range and include opportunities for students to learn about the redwoods and fire, conservation, climate change, and carbon sequestration. Hands-on experiences, including field trips to redwood parks, are also invaluable for cultivating the next generation of redwood stewards. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly moving to watch young people become engaged with the redwoods, to see them explore the connections between critical natural systems,\u201d says Zierten. \u201cAnd I find that by teaching the kids, they end up passing the message along to their parents.\u201d <\/p>\n

Zierten\u2019s love of education extends to adults as well. She regularly gives presentations and leads interpretive hikes to share the latest redwood research with members of the public. She unites redwood interpreters, naturalists and educators who work in redwood parks so together they can learn from and work with each other. <\/p>\n

Her work with park staff enhances the visitor experience through inclusive and inspiring messages. Whether she is developing new interpretive signage or training park naturalists, Zierten ensures the public leaves a redwood park more knowledgeable about redwood conservation than when they arrived. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n