The outgoing director of the Missouri Department of Conservation believes the department is headed in the right direction for the future.
Bob Ziehmer, who announced earlier this week his intention to step down as director later this summer, said he will be working for a private employer that will allow him to stay in the conservation field at a state and national level. He said his new employer will make the official announcement in the next few weeks.
Ziehmer began with the department in 1987 as an employee in the fisheries division and ended up being department director for 6 years. He said the department's biggest asset is its employees.
"I've enjoyed every position I've held, and each one has had its rewards," he said. "What I've found along the way is that we have a high quality of staff. They are world class and work to solve very challenging issues, such as how to deal with invasive species like feral hogs."
Ziehmer is particularly proud of the department's work with Missouri residents who themselves are helping the department deliver important programs.
"We have up to 10,000 volunteers working in various ways, such as helping at nature centers," he said. "Whether it's teaching hunter education courses or setting up workshops all over the state, volunteers serve our citizens, whether they be in our urban centers or in a rural area."
Ziehmer also sees the department as a national leader in habitat management and wildlife restoration.
"Our business side is also solid," he said. "We are working and operating like a business and working with diverse groups since we are a diverse state. With the two biggest rivers in the country, rolling forests throughout the state and everything else in between, our department is faced with many challenges that we meet every day. Plus, the economic benefits of our natural resources generate a significant amount of business for the state."
Ziehmer's last day on the job is July 15. A new director will be chosen by the state Conservation Commission.
"The citizen conservation framework that was set up to run our department is resulting in these steps forward that we've seen and will continue to see in the future," Ziehmer said.