EDGEFIELD, S.C. —Tom Spezze, NWTF’s national director of conservation programs, has been appointed to serve on the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Forestry Advisory Council to advance forest management and wildlife conservation. The newly launched CSF Forestry Advisory Council brings together key players in the forest industry and the hunting-wildlife conservation community to collaboratively inform and advance policies that support active forest management, a strong forest industry and improved wildlife habitat and access for sportsmen and women.
“I am honored to represent the NWTF alongside our partners at CSF on critically important forest health, wildlife conservation and policy matters”, Spezze said.
As a member of the CSF Forestry Advisory Council, Spezze will contribute his extensive expertise in conservation and forest management. Over the years, Spezze has played a pivotal role in landmark forest management endeavors. Before coming to the NWTF, he served as the executive director of the Rio Grande Watershed Emergency Action Team working with the USDA Forest Service in wildfire recovery response. Since coming to the NWTF, Spezze has served two terms on the Colorado Forest Health Advisory Council, appointed by two Governors on behalf of wildlife.
Additionally, as part of NWTF leadership, he has guided staff with key landscape-scale conservation initiatives, including the NWTF’s National Master Stewardship Agreement, the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative, the Waterways for Wildlife Initiative, the Habitat for the Hatch Initiative, the Forests and Flocks Initiative and the National Forestry Initiative.
Spezze also oversees the NWTF’s state policy program, working closely with NWTF’s federal policy team on forestry and wildlife and hunting issues. Through these efforts, Spezze has helped bridge wild turkey conservation with broader environmental challenges such as water quality and quantity, forest resiliency, landscape-scale habitat restoration and demand for recreational access.
Spezze’s contributions to the NWTF have demonstrated his ability to lead collaborative conservation efforts that yield tangible results. His work on collaborative initiatives like RMRI, exemplifies the kind of expertise and innovative thinking he will bring to the CSF Forestry Advisory Council.
The CSF Forestry Advisory Council will meet regularly throughout the year, poised to significantly increase CSF’s capacity to address state and federal issues that impact both the forest industry and the sporting community. Comprising organizations and individuals committed to promoting sportsmen’s access, wildlife conservation and sustainable forest management, the council is a vital step forward in enhancing forest health and wildlife habitat nationwide.
For more information about the CSF Forestry Advisory Council and its members, read the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation press release, here.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
