Speaking on Business: National Forest Foundation
From Salt Lake Chamber by Salt Lake Chamber
May 18, 2026 · 2 min
About this episode
Derek Miller speaks with Matthew Podolinsky about the National Forest Foundation's efforts in Utah to reduce wildfire risk and improve outdoor access.
This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. The National Forest Foundation, or NFF, partners with the U.S. Forest Service working across 193 million acres to reduce wildfire risk, restore watersheds and expand outdoor access. Utah Program Coordinator, Matthew Podolinsky, joins us with more. Matthew Podolinsky: Utah is home to more than 8 million acres of National Forest land — public lands that help define the state. In partnership with the Forest Service, the NFF is leading a variety of projects on these landscapes. Utah’s outdoor recreation economy is a 10 billion dollar powerhouse supporting over 75,000 jobs. That economic development depends on well-maintained, accessible public lands. Alongside our partners, the NFF is modernizing aging infrastructure by restoring campgrounds and trails to improve access and elevate the outdoor experience across the state. But in Utah, this work goes beyond recreation. It’s also about water. From restoring streams and floodplains to revitalizing wetlands, these efforts help secure reliable water sources for communities while supporting wildlife and biodiversity. The NFF’s work turns a shared love of the outdoors into meaningful action…
People in this episode
Host: Derek Miller
Guest: Matthew Podolinsky
Topics covered
- National Forest Foundation
- wildfire risk
- outdoor access
- economic development
- water restoration
- Utah's outdoor recreation economy
Keywords
- National Forest Foundation
- wildfire risk
- Utah
- outdoor recreation
- water restoration
- economic development
- public lands
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest Service
Places: Utah, National Forest land
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