Chris Knopf, executive director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, will speak March 23 at a joint worship service at Falcon Heights Church with New Life Presbyterian Church. He’ll share the remarkable story of how everyday citizens united to establish the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

Chris will highlight the organization’s ongoing conservation efforts, recent legal successes, and the challenges that lie ahead, including the critical work of protecting the Boundary Waters from the devastating threats posed by sulfide mining and the need to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

He will discuss the organization’s commitment to preventing sulfide copper mining near this fragile ecosystem, which could irreversibly damage the clean waters and wilderness we are striving to protect. Additionally, Chris will cover how Friends of the Boundary Waters is working to connect people to the BWCA through its three core program areas: People, Wilderness, and Community.

Chris will also address challenges posed by the new administration and how we are committed to combating these actions through advocacy, legal challenges, and mobilizing grassroots support to ensure that the Boundary Waters remains protected from harmful mining practices and other environmental threats.

About Chris Knopf

Chris has had a lifelong passion for environmental conservation, stemming from his childhood experiences of playing in lakes and streams and fishing. This interest led to a legal career where he practiced environmental law.

His background in law combined with his love for the environment has shaped his career dedicated to preserving natural resources and advocating for conservation efforts. He has run the state office of a national, nonprofit land conservation organization and worked on Native American land conservation projects before becoming Executive Director of the Friends in 2017. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Chris is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Virginia School of Law.