In celebration of our 40th Anniversary, The Lands Council highlights the contributions of those who have served as its executive directors. Mike Petersen filled this role from 2002 to 2021.
Left: Mike Petersen with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Tim Coleman on a hike in 2011. Right: Mike at the 2016 April Showers auction, TLC’s primary annual fundraiser.
By Kate Vanskike, TLC Board President 2025
In more than 30 years working with TLC, Mike Petersen was executive director for 19. He summarizes it with brevity: “We added a new tactic to our forest work — collaboration.”
Under his leadership, with the support of the Board and staff, the organization gained a reputation for collaborative problem-solving of forest-related issues, often sitting across the table from the very federal management agencies, timber companies, and other stakeholders that previously resorted to litigation to find solutions.
Collaboration was Mike’s tactic for addressing every environmental concern in our region: pollution of the Spokane River, tensions between the Forest Service and timber companies, clearcutting on public lands like Mt. Spokane, and more. He led countless lawsuits to protect our waterways and the aquifer that feeds them. Local media had Mike on speed-dial, it seems, as he was the go-to source for understanding of bills in front of our state leaders and how they would impact our area.
One Spokesman-Review writer, in 2011, wrote “He’s always hunting for unconventional allies.” Mike himself responded by saying: “We learn how agencies work, we insist on the best available science, we sometimes go to court, we negotiate, and we work to pass legislation. We try to do this in a way that respects others.” (Spokesman-Review 2011-Mar10)
One significant outcome of those efforts was the development of the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition – NEWFC – in 2002, which brought together leaders from Vaagen Brothers Lumber Company, conservation and wildlife groups, forest representatives and more, to protect the Colville National Forest.
Of this unique partnership, Mike said in 2015: “All collaboratives are place-based, which is another way of saying that all politics are local. Collaboratives gain lots of strength from local knowledge, from the participation of people who have lived in a particular area long enough to develop an understanding of its social, economic and cultural idiosyncrasies. What they seek is a more balanced consideration of local needs.” (Forest Policy Pub)
Closer to Spokane, TLC began contracts with the city on projects like stormwater management under Mike’s leadership.
Today, all of those connections continue to thrive, as The Lands Council builds on relationships with local and regional nonprofits, elected officials and city and county departments, and visionary businesses like Vaagen Brothers Lumber.
Cleve Ives, a public defender with a record of working on forest and conservation needs, met Mike Petersen when the timber wars were raging in the 1990s. He credits Mike and Tim Coleman of the Kettle Range Conservation Group with challenging all the appropriate parties. “Mike informed the public at countless hearings and community meetings and met with any and all media to provide facts and the best available science,” says Cleve. “While threats of violence swirled around them, Mike and Tim patiently stayed on task while doubling the memberships of their nonprofits.”
“Mike always understood the importance of community support,” Cleve continues. “The Lands Council fostered strong connections to neighborhoods, schools, and outdoor enthusiasts. Tree planting and soil reclamation efforts paired Lands Council staff and members with local groups, children, and families.Such innovative programs and Mike's ability to 'think outside the box' sparked The Lands Council Staff and energized media interest.”
An example of thinking creatively is the work TLC began under Mike: beavers. The crew relocated beavers to streams in need of restoration in the way beavers know best. Then they shifted to beaver dam analogs, systems that mimic a beaver’s work without requiring relocation of the animals. And as with all TLC projects, Mike heralded Washington State legislation around beaver ecosystem management.
No surprise to those familiar with current-day TLC work: Mike’s era of leadership also moved toward planting trees. “I had written a grant and we received $20,000 to plant 10,000 trees in the early 2000s,” he says. It’s work he continues to be proud of.
In our 40th year preserving, protecting and revitalizing Inland Northwest forests, water and wildlife, we’re proud to continue leading these efforts with gratitude for all who have contributed to this legacy.
