"Good forest stewardship is not about pace and scale, it's about building community and learning how to level-set the way we live according to the indigenous history and ecological context of a place."
BIO
Matt Nykiel joined the NFF in 2022 as the Central Colorado Projects Coordinator. He supports the development and implementation of conservation projects in Colorado’s Upper Arkansas River Valley that will conserve and restore watersheds, wildlife habitat, and wild places. Matt grew up on the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and fought fire for four seasons, three of which with the Pike Hotshots. Later, Matt earned his law degree at the University of Colorado.
After clerking for Judge Gregory M. Lammons at Colorado’s 8th Judicial District Court, he spent 5 years practicing environmental law and policy with the Idaho Conservation League and WildEarth Guardians. His areas of focus included the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, oil and gas, and energy law. Matt enjoys anything that gets him outside with other people, especially his partner, Ruth, and pup, Frisbee.