Today, the National Forest Foundation (NFF) announced that Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl has been appointed its new president and CEO, effective November 1, based in Washington, D.C.
Fenkart-Froeschl, in his most recent position, worked for six years as chief operating officer at the National Park Foundation (NPF), where “he helped triple revenue and grantmaking with programmatic impact to ensure national parks are protected, accessible and welcoming,” the NFF said in a media release.
NFF Board Chair Rob Leary remarked, “Dieter’s proven leadership perfectly positions him to lead the NFF at a critical time. The 193 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands in our country are the foundation of America’s outdoor recreation heritage and sustain our way of life. They clean our air, store carbon, provide water to millions, and support local economies. Dieter’s energy, experience, and leadership skills will help usher NFF into an exciting next chapter of accelerated growth and impact.”
As the largest partner of the USDA Forest Service, NFF has grown in recent years to build partnerships that restore and enhance national forests and grasslands in the U.S. They host “over 170 million recreational visits yearly, add $13.5 billion into the U.S. economy annually and sustain nearly 223,000 jobs in gateway communities,” the NFF continued in its media release.
Forest Service Chief Randy Moore stated, “I’m thrilled to have Dieter as a partner to elevate the impact of the National Forest Foundation. Partnerships are essential to the health and well-being of our national forests, grasslands, and communities. The National Forest Foundation has long been a key partner in ensuring the Forest Service fulfills its mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands for present and future generations.”
Fenkart-Froeschl traces his passion for the outdoors to his childhood exploring the mountains and forests of his native Austria. “Our forests and our water are absolutely vital,” he said. “As the only conservation organization solely focused on national forests and grasslands, it is important for us to advance our leadership in many areas, including climate resiliency, forest stewardship and clean watersheds. I look forward to collaborating with the Forest Service and our partners nationwide to grow our community of national forest champions and to inspire the American public to visit and support National Forests and Grasslands.”
Images courtesy NFF
