Mike Woods is the volunteer chairman of the Rhode Island Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Hunters & Anglers, a national organization whose mission is to “ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters and wildlife.”
About six years ago, Mike reached out to Save The Bay to introduce himself and his organization, discuss the common interests of our organizations, and identify opportunities for collaboration on policy and conservation. Since that first meeting, Mike has earned the admiration and respect of Save The Bay for his incredibly effective and dedicated volunteer advocacy on issues of great importance to Narragansett Bay and the communities who depend on it.
Those issues include shoreline access, environmental enforcement, the budgets of environmental agencies, the reform of the Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC), menhaden conversation, and much more. Mike is a great believer and practitioner of advocacy based on data, science and facts.
Over the years Mike has logged thousands of volunteer hours – often late at night – at legislative and regulatory hearings and in meetings and strategy sessions with his fellow advocates.
Just like Alison Walsh, Mike has thrown himself fully into the protection and restoration of our natural resources. His advocacy for shoreline access, including his critical role in keeping our coalition together to win passage of the historic Shoreline Access law of 2023, is a great example of how a determined individual can have real impact on Narragansett Bay. And, like Alison, Mike is a relentless, accomplished advocate for the environment.