Contact
...............................
The Aldo Leopold
Foundation
P.O.Box 77
Baraboo, WI 53913
608.355.0279
608.356.7309 fax
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Staff Profile: Steve Swenson
Steve Swenson has spent his career advancing the relationship between people and land. As ecologist for the Aldo Leopold Foundation, he directs the Science and Stewardship Program at the Leopold Family Shack and Farm, a National Historic Landmark. This work serves as the basis for partnership and communication with private landowners and resource professionals throughout the Midwest.
On a regional level, Steve authored a series of landowner handbooks covering South, west Wisconsin, Southeast Minnesota, and Southern Arkansas reaching over 30,000 landowners owning 6 million acres of land. These richly-illustrated handbooks help further the reader’s journey in their relationship to land providing both perspective and practical information.
Locally, Steve coordinates the Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area partnership, comprised of Federal, State and private lands. This 15,000 acre partnership offers a great example of science, communication, and relationships delivering tangible conservation success.
Over the years, Steve’s work helped the foundation evolve. In 2005-2007, Steve coordinated the harvest of 100,000 board feet of lumber from the historic Leopold Family Farm now incorporated in the Leopold Legacy Center. Serving as the foundation’s headquarters, the Legacy Center is one of the most energy efficient buildings in the country.
Steve has years of experience in land care including prairie restoration, prescribed burning, timber management, invasive species control, data collection, and management planning. Steve received his Bachelor’s degree (1995) in environmental science and biology from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and a Master’s degree (1999) in plant ecology from The Ohio State University.