April 04, 2024

Aldo Leopold & the Importance of Conservation with Steve Swenson

1 hour

On this week's show, we'll be talking about "conservation" with the Aldo Leopold Foundation's (ALF) Steve Swenson. Aldo Leopold is considered to be the "Father of wildlife ecology and modern conservation." We'll see how the ALF defines conservation in today's environment.

The Mission of the ALF is "to foster a land ethic through the legacy of Aldo Leopold. Inspired by his profound vision, they seek to cultivate an understanding and appreciation of their relationship with the environment on all levels, be it individuals or entire communities.”

About Steve Swenson

Steve Swenson for over 20 years, has been advancing the ethical relationship between people and land through tangible conservation initiatives. As Program Director, he oversees the foundation’s marketing, communications, facilities, education and outreach, and land stewardship staffs. Steve’s coordination and facilitation of staff’s time and talents focus on the foundation’s ambition to grow budget and impact.

His role oversees the preservation and protection of Aldo Leopold’s historic Shack, a National Historic Landmark and the conservation ambition and impact achieved on surrounding lands through the 4,000-acre Leopold-Pines Conservation Area.

Regionally, Steve coordinates a public-private partnership called My Wisconsin Woods. Through continuous improvement of outreach methods, My Wisconsin Woods inspires land care among woodland owners. For this project and others, Steve authored regionalized handbooks titled My Healthy Woods, written specifically for inexperienced landowners. These award-winning handbooks have reached over 40,000 landowners collectively owning 6 million acres in Arkansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Steve holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Science from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a M.S. in Ecology from Ohio State University.

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