First Black National Wildlife Federation Chair

First Black National Wildlife Chair
Jerome Ringo hopes to set an example, increase conservation awareness for all Americans
By Hamil R. Harris

Jerome Ringo, a veteran outdoorsman who has spent decades fighting to preserve the nation's parks, wildlife, and other natural resources, was recently elected board chairman of the National Wildlife Federation. The 50-year-old Louisiana native becomes the first African American to hold such a high-ranking post at a major conservation organization.

The NWF is dedicated to preserving and safeguarding wildlife for our children's future. But in a field with very few African Americans, Ringo hopes to increase conservation awareness among all U.S. citizens. “I believe that this is a unique opportunity to set an example for young people in the minority community of the importance of preserving and conserving the earth,” Ringo says. “We as people all drink the water; we all breathe the air so we should all be involved in the process to sustain people and wildlife.”

Ringo became a conservationist after 20 years of working in Louisiana's powerful petrochemical industry. “I worked for the polluters, I worked for companies inside the fence line, but I came to realize the adverse impact that it was having on people outside the fence line,” he recalls.

In 1996, Ringo joined the board of the wildlife federation. Now, Ringo will take the helm of an organization that has four million members in 47 states and territories. He is also the president of Progressive Resources Inc., a firm that provides technical experts in environmental litigation.

Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of NWF, welcomes Ringo's leadership saying in a press release that “his passion and commitment,” to the organization will “strengthen our ability to reach out to all Americans as we seek solutions to keep our wildlife heritage alive for future generations.”

Some of Ringo's priorities will include seeking solutions to global warming, cleaning up the country's waterways, strengthening the Endangered Species Act, resolving the destruction of coastal wetlands in Louisiana and throughout the U.S., and working to limit oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

“One of the biggest issues that we are facing today is drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to satisfy America's gluttonous appetite for energy but the answer will not be found on the slopes of Alaska but in the factories of Detroit,” Ringo says. “We have to get rid of the SUV's and build cars that get better gas mileage and explore innovative ideas for better energy products.”

While these items top his agenda, in the future Ringo intends on bringing more African Americans into the conservation movement by being an ambassador for the federation. “I believe that the conservationist movement over the next several decades will not be successful unless a truly diverse coalition is established.”