By Anya Blaney
© Mike Schaefer
Mike Schaefer began his decades-long involvement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) by stewarding the legacy donations of his late partner, Ric Weiland. The first donation to TNC was a $6.4 million gift to its global programs, and the second was a $6.4 million gift to the Washington chapter. Those funds were directed toward protecting and restoring vital wild salmon habitats that run along the Hoh, Queets, Clearwater, and Quinault Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula, an area that he and Ric loved.
“As hikers, our family had spent years observing forest health and salmon passage,” Mike said. “My heart just melted when The Nature Conservancy let me know that it was going to direct funds from my partner's bequest into critical land purchases and restoration along the Clearwater River adjacent to the Quinault Reservation in our Olympic coastal rainforest.”
He continued, “It is an area we have hiked and explored for decades, and I know how important these investments are to local communities and Tribes, forest health, and salmon recovery. Participating in this effort, even in just a small way, has been an immense gift in my life.”
The donations Mike stewarded allowed the Conservancy to expand the conservation of key natural spaces in some of Washington's most vital rainforests and rivers despite the widespread economic recession of the early 2000s. These restoration projects include over 15 miles of the Queets and Clearwater Rivers. This work led to new and stronger relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula who understand their home best. Mike's stewardship impacted Washington and vast swaths of coastal ecosystems along the west coast of North America, from southeast Alaska to northern California, via the Emerald Edge initiative.
“Our family's example is just one of many I've had the opportunity to become involved with during my board tenure,” Mike said. “Over and over, I've seen firsthand how donor gifts are thoughtfully stewarded, celebrated, and leveraged for impact by The Nature Conservancy, far beyond what most of us could ever anticipate. They wanted to know about our intentions and what was important to my partner and me. It resonated with them that we cared about projects in Washington state that affect forest management and salmon restoration.”
The Nature Conservancy in Washington bestowed Mike and his family with a Conservation Hero Award in 2010 during its 50th-anniversary celebration. He was honored alongside the late Billy Frank Jr. of the Nisqually Indian Tribe. Frank was the Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and devoted his life to fighting for treaty rights to fish in the Pacific Northwest, eventually succeeding in 1974 after multiple arrests during tribal "fish-ins". Being honored on the same stage as Frank reminded Mike of the power of individuals to protect our shared resources. Kathy Fletcher, a biologist who developed the first Puget Sound Management Plan and founded People for Puget Sound, also received an award for her activism during TNC in Washington’s birthday celebration.
© TNC
“Billy Frank and Kathy Fletcher are personal heroes of mine,” Mike said. “I was incredibly honored to accept the Conservancy’s award on behalf of my family alongside them.”
Mike’s lifetime of advocacy began during his young adulthood as an activist for LGBTQ rights. “As a gay man on the cusp of the AIDS epidemic, it seemed becoming an activist while juggling a career was my only future,” Mike wrote. Eventually, Mike also began to volunteer for environmental groups, and he has dedicated decades of service to both movements.
His experiences have created an unwavering conviction that a movement is only made strong through diversity—and that strengthening any group you join through diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) work is always ongoing and never completed. At first, he felt hesitant to join TNC in Washington’s Board of Trustees, wanting to be sure he wouldn’t be another “white man of privilege.”
However, “I knew including diverse voices brought immense strength to the LGBTQ movement,” Mike wrote about his decision to bring his skills to the board. “I expected no less when participating in the leadership of the conservation movement.”
Mike joined TNC in Washington’s board in 2015. Before joining the board, he was a member of the Washington chapter’s Leadership Council, and as a trustee, he has served as ambassador of the Legacy Club. He also contributed to the development of the TNC in Washington’s first Equity Statement, bringing his passion for equity and diversity to the project, and he continues to advocate for these values to be brought into reality, celebrating the board’s improvements yet pushing for an ever-evolving and increasingly diverse board.
“I was struck by the breadth of the Conservancy’s connections and its recognition that the conservation challenges we are confronted with require both ‘in-your-face’ collaboration and lifetime commitments,” Mike said while reflecting on his reasons for dedicating nearly 20 years to the Conservancy.
© TNC
Mike also praised how TNC encourages its volunteers and staff to take a hands-on approach to conservation, saying, “The Conservancy has opened doors, allowing me to witness and participate in their work locally and around the globe. I’ve joined other board members on dives in remote Indonesian islands to study coral health. I’ve sailed the Pacific coast from Seattle to Alaska to see the incredible work in the Great Bear Rainforest. I’ve walked the halls of Congress alongside the Conservancy to make sure the voice of conservation is heard when priorities are negotiated.”
Mike believes in the significance of the Conservancy’s ongoing mission and their collaborative and forward-thinking practices, and he especially expressed faith in the people behind the organization. “I will leave with a tremendous amount of gratitude for the dedication, thoughtfulness, and humility of so many of the people I have had the pleasure to meet during my volunteer time. This work can never end—and my read is that all of us, folks from all walks of life, must get involved.”
“The conservation movement needs your voice,” Mike encouraged any future volunteers. “No matter your concerns about your time, skills, or resources, your life will be richer for every moment you share. Think big, and jump into conservation issues now, however you can and wherever you are, with both feet. The world needs your insights and expertise, so don’t wait.”
By Anya Blaney, Partner, Blaney Consulting
