Whether it was collecting berries and foraging for mushrooms with his family in the Austrian Alps or backpacking with his sons through the Sierra, Inyo, and Bridger-Teton National Forests, Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl has always turned to the outdoors to connect. It’s this search for connection—and its ability to create mission-based impact—that’s driven his long career in public service.

The desire began as early as college, when Fenkart-Froeschl turned a grassroots recycling effort into a school-funded program that still exists today, and has carried through to his recent role at the National Park Foundation, where he tripled the organization’s revenue, grantmaking, and programmatic impact in just six years.

Now, as the new President and CEO of the National Forest Foundation, Fenkart-Froeschl is set to implement his unique vision at a critical time. The first order of business? “To lead with impact and establish transformational goals that people can see themselves in,” says Fenkart-Froeschl. “Forests give us so much and we play a critical role in keeping them healthy.”

What was your relationship to the outdoors like growing up?

I was an active child and the outdoors helped ground me. You could find me climbing trees, trekking through the woods, or playing in the yard. My vacations were regularly spent in a small village in Austria where the list of outdoor activities was endless. I remember the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when I came home and was exhausted from a full day of playing and exercising outdoors. I also gained an appreciation for how local communities depend on the resources that exist within nature. Today, I realize what could be lost if we don’t protect and preserve these places for future generations.

How did your international upbringing influence your outlook?

My parents are simple people, raised in post World War II Europe. In my youth, we took joy in simple things, such as hiking, gardening, and family time. Having lived in Austria, Brazil, Chile, and the U.S., my parents’ natural curiosity led us to explore the natural landscapes in these places and learn about the cultures that shape the people who live there. If anything, my upbringing taught me to appreciate how our natural settings often shape cultural norms. My parents helped open my eyes to the importance of nature, and today, my wife and I have equally tried to instill these values in our children.

Is there a turning-point moment that set you on your career path?

When I entered college in the U.S., I was lost and desperately searching for a place or activity to fit in. After failing to cast in the fall musical I was downtrodden, but serendipitously ran into two seniors who had launched the school’s student-led recycling program and were looking for someone to take it on. The rest is history. After leading the program for the remainder of my college years, it grew so big that the university fully incorporated it into their own waste management program. The experience taught me two things: I love working with people to make the world a better place and I am driven by mission.

What were your motivations for joining the National Forest Foundation?

The question I am most often asked is, “Who is the National Forest Foundation?” Most individuals don’t realize we are a stand-alone nonprofit, chartered by Congress in 1993 to be the U.S. Forest Service’s only national partner. Our work focuses on climate resiliency, healthy watersheds, and recreation for all. National Forests sequester 15%-20% of all carbon in the atmosphere, they provide one-third of American households with fresh, drinkable water, and they offer millions of people the opportunity to recreate. In other words, National Forests impact the lives of every American. That’s a cause I can get behind.

What’s one of your favorite places on a National Forest?

National Forests are inspiringly raw and wild. They offer some of the best hiking if you’re willing to be adventurous. Two such hikes stand out. For a day hike, the hike to Doris Mountain via Doris Ridge in Montana’s Flathead National Forest ranks as one of the top five hikes of my entire life. For a multi-day hike, leaving Silver Pass in the Sierra National Forest along the John Muir Trail was one of the more breath-taking moments in my life.

What impact do you hope to make in the next few years?

The National Forest Foundation has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. We can’t rest on our laurels however, and our work is generational in spirit. The seedlings we plant today will mature in 10-40 years. The thinning work we do to prevent wildfires will be measured by our ability to protect communities over the next few decades. And the innovative investments we make today can help shape forests for a new economy. Additionally, we can’t do this alone. Let’s think bigger! The NFF is one of four congressionally chartered foundations that support public land agencies. Together, this group of four foundations support 600 million acres, roughly 26% of the country’s landmass. Our collective voice and combined movement can help protect and preserve our public lands for generations to come.

Photos provided by Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl.