Redwood National and State Parks Superintendent: Steve Mietz

This episode takes us to Redwood National and State Parks, home to the tallest trees on Earth and some of the most vital old-growth forests left standing. These ancient redwoods, towering over the California coast, create a landscape unlike any other—where entire ecosystems thrive high in the canopy, and every acre plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate resilience.We’re joined by Steve Mietz, the superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks. With a deep passion for conservation and decades of experience in public lands management, Steve has been at the forefront of efforts to restore and protect these incredible forests. Under his leadership, projects like Redwood Rising are reclaiming lands impacted by logging, ensuring that future generations will experience the grandeur of old-growth redwoods.In this episode, Steve shares his insights on what makes these forests so special, the challenges of balancing visitor access with ecosystem protection, and the importance of partnerships—including the tribally led condor restoration project and collaborations with state parks. We also dive into the power of slowing down in nature, the need for more inclusive access to public lands, and, of course, the ever-present legend of Sasquatch.You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.Sign up for the Who Runs This Park’s newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark.Who Runs This Park is produced by Maddie Pellman with music by Danielle Bees.