MENDOCINO CO., 3/26/25 – Steve Mietz has been named the new chief executive officer of Save the Redwoods League, the nonprofit announced Tuesday.
The San Francisco-based nonprofit protects and restores redwood forests throughout Northern California, including in Mendocino County.
Prior to joining the League, Mietz worked for the National Park Service. He was superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks for almost eight years. At the parks, he managed landscape projects, scientific research and hundreds of staff members.
He helped lead the Redwood Rising project, which helped to restore 70,000 acres of forest damaged by logging. He also helped establish Indigenous land management projects with the parks, League and Yurok Tribe.
For his work at the parks, he was named Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship by the National Park Service.
He was named to the new position with a unanimous vote by the League’s board of directors. “We are thrilled to have someone with his entrepreneurial vision, incredible track record of leadership, and passionate commitment to conservation,” the league said.“He will be instrumental not only in preserving our ancient forests, but in restoring resilience and beauty across the redwood range.”
Current League CEO and president Sam Hodder will step down on Mar. 31 after 11 years. Mietz will step into his new role on April 28.