Resource Renewal Institute

About RRI: Huey Johnson

Huey D. Johnson
Resource Renewal Institute founder and president, Huey D. Johnson, is a practical visionary and internationally distinguished environmentalist. Known as the leading U.S. proponent of sustainability policy known as Green Plans, Mr. Johnson is widely respected for his pioneering work on land conservation and resource management policy over a nearly 50-year career. Active in U.S. and global environmental affairs, serving on boards, writing, advising political leaders, and presenting papers and lectures on the environment around the world, Mr. Johnson's career experience includes transforming ideas into established working institutions that benefit natural resources, wildlife, and society.

He has founded numerous environmental organizations, including: the Resource Renewal Institute (RRI), the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the Grand Canyon Trust, the Environmental Liaison Center in Nairobi, Defense of Place, and the Aldo Leopold Society. In addition, Mr. Johnson was also responsible for building The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in the West, serving for eight years as its Western Regional Director and a year as its president. Serving in the cabinet of former California Governor Jerry Brown as Secretary of Resources, where he oversaw a billion dollar annual budget and fourteen thousand employees, he launched successful programs on water and energy conservation programs, doubled CA salmon numbers, strengthened forestry policy, preserved several million acres of wilderness and 1200 miles of wild rivers.

Huey Johnson, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, and Kerry Kennedy at the Peace Prize celebration honoring Dr. Maathai in Oslo, Norway, 2005.

Mr. Johnson's career recognition includes the prestigious Sasakawa Prize in 2001, the annual environmental award given by the United Nations to honor an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the management and protection of the environment; the 1996 President's Award for Sustainable Development; and honorary doctorates from Utah State and Dominican Universities.

Mr. Johnson's most popular book, Green Plans: Blueprint for Sustainability (University of Nebraska Press, 2008) is available anywhere books are sold.

For more information or to inquire about a speaking engagement or interview, please call 415.928.3774.