The sun shined brightly on our gathering to honor our founder, friend and mentor, Huey Johnson. January 6, 2025, would have been Huey’s 92nd birthday, and we took the opportunity to reflect on his remarkable life and contributions that guide our path every day.

The proposed Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern California represents a vital opportunity to protect one of the state’s most ecologically, culturally, and hydrologically significant regions. Often called the “headwaters of California,” Sáttítla provides fresh water to millions across the state, supporting wildlife, agriculture, and communities from the highlands to the San Francisco Bay.

As we approach our40th anniversary, the RRI team is filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible journey we have undertaken together. When Huey founded his fledgling “think and do” tank in 1985, he had already built an astonishing record of environmental accomplishments.  One of these achievements—saving the Marin Headlands—was honored this year by the National Park Service (NPS).

RRI joins a coalition of 132 organizations calling on Congress to pass emergency funding for communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The November 2024 letter requests over $44 billion in disaster relief and infrastructure resilience funding while advocating for policy changes to strengthen federal disaster response capabilities.

46 Bay Area environmental organizations have united to urge San Francisco officials to drop a lawsuit against the EPA, scheduled for Supreme Court hearing on October 16, 2024. The lawsuit challenges EPA's authority under the Clean Water Act, potentially undermining nationwide water protection efforts.

RRI and a coalition of over 50 conservation organizations sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and key California legislators strongly opposing the proposed reversion of $45 million in General Funds from the Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) back to the General Fund.

On May 9, 2024, the Resource Renewal Institute joined over 100 environmental organizations urging Governor Newsom’s administration to proceed with funding the projects scheduled for the May 23rd Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) meeting despite potential budget cuts.

On May 6th, 2024, the Resource Renewal Institute (RRI) and over 400 organizations signed an open letter urging President Biden to declare a national climate emergency and take swift, transformative action to address the climate crisis.

The Resource Renewal Institute joins over 600 organizations in endorsing the March to End Fossil Fuels, which is taking place ahead of the UN Climate Ambition Summit.

In December, Resource Renewal Institute (RRI) lost a wonderful friend and a colleague whose work will have a lasting impact on our organization. Lynn Alexander was a multi-faceted person who often surprised us with her wide range of talents and interests. As a director of large, complex projects for RRI, she was an organizational expert and accomplished leader who brought out the best in all of us.

For six decades Huey D. Johnson was a steadfast force for nature, protecting wild rivers and securing millions of acres of land as Western Regional Director of the Nature Conservancy, and later as its president; as founder of the Trust for Public Land and as California’s Secretary of Resources, where he spearheaded “Investment for Prosperity,” a 100-year plan that became a blueprint for sustainability programs worldwide.