WildEarth Guardians

A Force for Nature

Select Page

Adam Rissien

ReWildling Manager

Email Adam

he/him

Adam rejoined WildEarth Guardians in 2019 and currently manages the ReWilding Initiative that focuses on restoring wildness to Forest Service lands scarred by decades of exploitation and mismanagement. Adam focuses on protecting and restoring areas of Forest Service land crucial for wildlife connectivity, in particular grizzly bears. He also promotes legitimate restoration to assist ecosystem recovery, and advocates for the protection and expansion of mature/old growth forests that serve as part of a broader climate crisis solution. He also oversees Guardians’ efforts to change Forest Service policy and practice in a manner that protects and restores the mutualistic associations of fungal species in forest ecosystems, particularly mycorrhizae.

Before returning to WildEarth Guardians, Adam resided in Columbus Ohio with his family where he worked at the Ohio Environmental Council fighting agricultural pollution to help stop toxic algae growing in Lake Erie, until starting his own business, Land Ethic Consulting, LLC. During this time, he served as a statehouse lobbyist for the Sierra Club to advance clean energy legislation, and he also provided technical support for a range of clients.

Before moving to Ohio, Adam spent 15 years in the Northern Rockies, where he focused on protecting and restoring national forest lands. This included working as the Policy Specialist with Wildlands CPR before the organization’s merger with WildEarth Guardians in 2013. Much of Adam’s career focused on protecting wild places from off-road vehicle damage, and promoting an ecologically sustainable Forest Service transportation system. Adam earned a M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana with an environmental policy emphasis, and currently resides in Missoula, MT with his wife and son.