When stepping into the professional world, we often wish for coworkers who are kind, collaborative, and brimming with optimism and hope. Fortunately for the team at EcoAgriculture Partners and the 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People initiative, Tom Miewald was the embodiment of all three.
Though Tom joined EcoAgriculture Partners just 18 months ago as Director of 1000L, his leadership journey in landscapes stretched back decades. As a passionate and accomplished champion of the landscape movement, Tom led the Regional Conservation Partnership Program in Oregon with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and was a critical leader in advancing the Cascades-to-Coast Landscape Collaborative. Earlier in his career, he spent time in Cameroon on agroforestry projects and developing a GIS facility. At the Wild Salmon Center, he fostered international cooperation across Japan, the U.S., and Russia.
“Working with Tom was a lesson in open-mindedness and purpose. He believed in landscapes-but even more in the people who steward them.”
– Philip Forboseh, Rainforest Alliance
Tom understood that even the most ambitious landscape investments could only succeed when grounded in trust, collaboration, and authentic partnership. He championed the mission of 1000L with energy and wisdom, building a vibrant learning and action network that connected practitioners across continents. He galvanized existing partners and warmly welcomed new ones in a way that reflected shared needs and mutual contributions.
“Tom held the collective space for a diverse and growing community of partners committed to ecosystem restoration and economic revitalization, in some of the most challenging and contested environments.”
– Blake Ratner, CoRE
Inclusive and patient, Tom had a gift for creating safe and productive spaces for dialogue. He was a connector and fierce believer in the collaborative potential of landscape partnerships and the people who steward them. His innate emotional intelligence shone in every conversation, whether on the COP stage in Saudi Arabia or around a West Virginia campfire.
Tom demonstrated his dedication by traveling the necessary miles to strengthen the 1000L community. He joined colleagues at a wildland retreat in the Netherlands, a snowy Steering Committee gathering in Vermont, and a spirited partner workshop in the hills of West Virginia to co-design the initiative’s scaling strategy. He visited partners in Kenya, Switzerland, the U.S., and beyond, always bringing warmth and curiosity wherever he went.
For those who knew him personally, Tom’s kindness and humility left a lasting mark. He never raised his voice but held firm convictions, a gentleman in every sense of the word. Many of us carry vivid memories: laughing together in Kenya, sharing music from his band days, or supportive conversations about adjusting to new roles. He dreamed boldly, spinning ideas about podcasts, collaborations, and innovative projects that we believed could transform the future of holistic landscape management.
“Tom brought joy, serenity, and compassion every day as we worked alongside each other. He was quick to smile, and his relentless optimism made everything feel a bit brighter.”
– Réka Blakemore, EcoAgriculture Partners
Tom’s loss leaves a space that cannot be filled, but his legacy will endure in the partnerships he nurtured, the people he encouraged, and the ambitious endeavors he envisioned for our work.
Our role now is to carry forward the values he embodied. In this spirit, anyone who would like to honor Tom is invited to make a donation to the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon.