Sam Hodder, President and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, Announces Plans to Step Down After More than a Decade Leading 107-year-old Conservation Organization

Save the Redwoods League

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Robin Carr, Landis Communications Inc
Email: Redwoods@LandisPR.com | Phone: (415) 766-0927

 

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. (October 22, 2024) — After 11 years leading one of the nation’s oldest and most beloved conservation organizations, Sam Hodder announced today that he has decided to step down as president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League (League) on March 31, 2025, at the close of the organization’s current fiscal year. A search for the League’s next leader will commence immediately, led by Vice Chair of the League’s Board of Directors Rosemary Cameron.

Sam Hodder. Photo by Paul Robert Wolf Wilson.
Sam Hodder, President and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. Photo by Paul Robert Wolf Wilson, courtesy of Save the Redwoods League.

Longtime conservation professional Hodder joined the League as president and CEO in 2013. During his 11-year tenure, Hodder has been a driving force behind the League’s expansive work, publicly championing the organization’s mission to protect and restore California’s redwoods and giant sequoia forests and connect people to their beauty. Hodder oversaw a significant period of growth and transformation for the organization, anchored by the organization’s Centennial Vision announced in 2018.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to serve this storied organization during a period of such growth and impact, as the League has risen to meet the changing environmental and cultural climates,” said Hodder. “My decision to step down and explore my own next chapter reflects my deep confidence in the League’s organizational capacity, financial foundation and A-team of professional and volunteer leaders. With those core strengths and the momentum we have built together, the League is driving forward to realize our vision of protecting and stewarding the beloved redwood and giant sequoia forests.”

League Board of Directors Chair Sara Clark said, “Sam has been exactly the leader the League needed to catalyze and accelerate the growth of Save the Redwoods League. Sam’s commitment to our advancement, his boundless energy and his remarkable skills as a communicator drew people in and inspired them to want to be a part of our mission. Most of all, he has positioned this organization for the future, and I have no doubt that whoever succeeds Sam will be set up to build upon his legacy of success.”

Since Hodder’s arrival in 2013, the League has made tremendous progress in furthering its mission and vision:

Protect Redwoods and Giant Sequoia Lands Forever

  • Protected more than 34,000 acres of redwood and giant sequoia forests, including:
    • The four largest remaining old growth groves in both the coast redwood and giant sequoia ranges.
    • Lost Coast Redwoods – 8 miles of Pacific shoreline and 5,000 acres of redwood forest protected from industrial forest management on the renowned Lost Coast.
    • The League’s first working forest easements on a total of over 28,000 acres protected from subdivision and development.
    • 6,743 acres of critical forest lands secured in 16 separate land acquisitions in and around state and national parks.

Restore Redwood Forests to Become Old Growth of the Future

  • Launched the League’s forest restoration program, building staff capacity for landscape-scale management and stewardship efforts to heal damaged forest ecosystems and build wildfire resilience;
  • Established innovative stewardship coalitions in both ranges to restore climate resilience and grow the old growth of the future:
    • At over 70,000 acres, Redwoods Rising is now one of the three largest landscape restoration projects in the U.S.
    • Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition is leading coordinated stewardship efforts by all giant sequoia management entities to address the emerging existential threat of catastrophic wildfire to giant sequoias.
  • Drove significant growth of science program, including granting more than $6 million for research by academic partners. Successes include mapping the redwood and giant sequoia genomes and completing the decade-long Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative.

Connect People with the Redwoods and Deepen Partnerships

Organizational Growth

  • Led the League’s DEI planning process and centered the resulting public commitments in all aspects of the League’s work.
  • Led first comprehensive fundraising campaign for the redwoods, the Forever Forest Campaign, raising more than $140 million and drove 120% growth in philanthropic support over 11 years.
  • Established a 100-year plan, the Centennial Vision for the League’s future, to accelerate the pace and scale of redwood forest conservation and restoration in the context of global issues of climate resilience, carbon sequestration, public health and equitable access to nature.
  • Affirmed Save the Redwoods League as a leading voice in state and national conversations around conservation funding and policy, climate change adaptation and land conservation.

 

The search for Save the Redwoods League’s next president and CEO is being supported by executive search firm Isaacson Miller.

 


 

Save the Redwoods League
One of the nation’s longest-running conservation organizations, Save the Redwoods League has been protecting and restoring redwood forests since 1918. The League has connected generations of visitors with the beauty and serenity of the redwood forests. Our 600,000 supporters have enabled the League to protect more than 220,000 acres of irreplaceable forests in 66 state, national, and local parks and reserves. For information, please visit SaveTheRedwoods.org.


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California State Parks and Save The Redwoods League Unveil New Plan to Safeguard Iconic Redwood Parks in Santa Cruz County

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SANTA CRUZ — California State Parks and Save the Redwoods League today released a new Forest Management Strategy (FMS) aimed at restoring and protecting three state parks in Santa Cruz County following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire. The devastating wildfire burned through more than 24,000 acres in Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo and Butano state parks. The FMS outlines critical actions needed to help the forests recover and to improve wildfire and climate resilience in the parks and neighboring communities.

Save the Redwoods League Enters Agreement to Purchase 1,500+ Acres of Redwood Forest That Will Expand Adjacent Regional Park Near Russian River in Sonoma County

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Save the Redwoods League has secured an opportunity to conserve the 1,517-acre Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion property in Sonoma County. Less than two hours north of San Francisco, the Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion will link more than 22,000 acres of coastal redwoods forest, wildlife corridors and watershed, from the Bohemian Highway to the Sonoma Coast and north to Jenner Headlands.


5 Responses to “Sam Hodder, President and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, Announces Plans to Step Down After More than a Decade Leading 107-year-old Conservation Organization”

  1. Barbara Parnow

    Please find a successor for Sam Hodder from within the organization, or at least someone who knows and loves redwood trees.

    Reply
  2. Denise Stephens

    We’re saddened to see Sam move on; but we know that life has its seasons! Wishing the best to Sam in his future professional and personal endeavors! Thank you, Sam, for 11 great years of growth of the Save the Redwood League into a truly world class conservation organization.

    Reply
  3. Randolph Smith

    Sam has been a great gift to our great organization. We will find a replacement to continue his powerful leadership and it will take a Super Person. Deepest thanks, Sam. Randolph

    Reply
  4. Claudia Cravens

    Mr. Hodder,
    Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to saving the Redwoods!!! Sorry to see you go but it must be the right decision for you at this juncture. I hope the Board will do their “due diligence” to find a CEO who is committed to the cause which is not an easy task!!!
    Thank you again for all you & your team have accomplished!!!!!
    GREAT JOB!!!!!

    Reply
  5. John Wilson

    Thank you, sir, for helping to take such good care of the trees.

    Reply

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