Ted Siff

Region: Blackland Prairie

Topics: Parks, Open Space, Ecotourism, Environmental History, Politics
 

Mr. Siff has had a multi-faceted career in conservation, working in early national Nader organizations, such as Congress Watch, and helping found and lead several state and local open space groups, including the Texas chapter of the Trust for Public Land and the Austin Parks Foundation. 

Realizing that public interest work requires political engagement, Mr. Siff has been active in monitoring Texas political goings-on as a former publisher of the Quorum Report, and in lobbying for millions of dollars of park acquisition bonds.  Seeing that non-profits need stable financial support, he served as board chair of Earth Share of Texas, a workplace giving campaign representing more than 70 conservation-oriented NGOs across the state.

Outside of the non-profit world, he has also contributed to conservation efforts, by serving as executive director of the well-known ecotourism firm, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, and running his own private lands protection consultancy, "Creating Common Ground".

As well, Mr. Siff is a founding board member and long-time officer of the Conservation History Association of Texas.

Interviewed

January 20, 2007
Austin, Texas
Reels 2382, 2383, and 2384