Longtime conservation leader and Pennsylvania native Larry Schweiger, announced Wednesday he will retire as President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation in early May 2014.

"This is very bittersweet for me. I will step away from my role as President and CEO of NWF in early May of 2014, but I look forward to expanding my influence beyond the wildlife-specific focus of NWF’s mission, writing another book on climate change solutions, and, most importantly, spending more time in nature with my family - including my five precious grandsons," said Schweiger.

"Larry Schweiger has served NWF and the entire conservation movement for several decades with passion, influence, vision and determination," said Deborah Spalding, Chair of the NWF Board of Directors."We respect and support his desire to devote more time to his family and to focus his energies on all climate change issues, not just those impacting wildlife."

She added, "Larry will be leaving NWF at a time of promising momentum – having just completed our Fiscal 2013 year ahead of budget, with a strong senior executive team in place, and year-to-year increases in membership and giving."

Schweiger served for eight years as President and CEO of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, where he pioneered watershed restoration and promoted ecological research, land conservation and community outreach.

Prior to that, Larry was the Executive Secretary of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, 1st Vice President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs at National Wildlife Federation.

In 2011 Schweiger was awarded the Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future Visionary Award for his leadership in raising awareness about the critical impacts of climate change throughout the world and commitment to employing clean energy solutions.

He was selected as Pennsylvania’s Environmental Professional of the Year in 2002, Pittsburgher of the Year in 2000, and he received a Conservation Service Award from the Christian Environmental Association in September 1995.

His book on global warming and wildlife, released by Fulcrum Publishing in September 2009, Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth, was awarded First Prize for Non-Fiction by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in 2011.

10/28/2013