Who We Are
Restoration Earth is a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of native plants to create a sustainable world. Founded through grassroots action, Restoration Earth has become a leading force in transforming urban and suburban landscapes. With the support of our donors and partners, we aim to restore natural ecosystems, support biodiversity, and combat climate change across the United States.
Our Mission
Our mission is to increase the supply and use of native plants throughout landscapes, helping restore biodiversity and providing an abundant and thriving planet for all living beings.
Our Leaders
Meet the experts and dedicated staff that drive Restoration Earth’s mission. Our team is committed to delivering tangible, lasting results for both people and nature.
Micah Dickinson
President
With over 25 years dedicated to fire protection, Micah is a seasoned industry veteran passionate about solving complex fire safety problems. Possessing a deep understanding of design, project management, and business development, Micah has successfully addressed complex fire safety challenges for major corporations worldwide.
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Currently, at the forefront of the industry's transition away from AFFF firefighting foam containing PFAS, Micah is leading the charge in developing and implementing fluorine-free solutions. He is working closely with industry professionals and government officials to craft practical guidance based in data and testing. Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders like CDM Smith and Revive Environmental, he provides comprehensive solutions to this critical issue.
In addition to this groundbreaking work, Micah is driving innovation by launching a new product that replaces water-intensive wet deluge system testing with a vapor-based alternative. This technology offers substantial water savings and cost reductions while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Micah lives near Lake Michigan and has always been passionate about the Great Lakes. He is actively involved with the Alliance for the Great Lakes and is focused on promoting water conservation, even in the fire protection industry.
Micah’s demanding travel schedule meant limited time at home. Over the years, the pressures of work and life encroached on his ability to maintain his two-acre lawn. Frustrated by the time commitment, water consumption, and overall inefficiency of traditional lawn care, Micah sought a more sustainable and practical solution. After an arduous journey, Micah finally found his solution: Native Restoration. Along with his passion for the sensible, Micah enjoys hanging out with his two boys, bouldering, hiking 14ers, and crafting delicious cocktails.​​
Keith Kluting
Secretary
Keith is the founder of Black River Habitats, LLC, founded in 2008 with a mission to restore wildlife habitats throughout the state of Michigan and the upper Midwest. The firm is involved in many aspects of ecological restoration, from native prairie installation and wetland improvement and construction to invasive species evaluation and control.
Keith and his firm, with their extensive experience, have provided a wide range of ecological services for numerous reputable organizations, including conservation districts, local municipalities, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Pheasants Forever, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Parks Service, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, land conservancies, and private landowners.
Before founding Black River Habitats, LLC, Keith spent 15 years in land surveying and eight years as a wildlife assistant at the Allegan State Game Area for the Michigan DNR Wildlife Division. He was also a wildland firefighter for ten years.
When Keith isn’t busy restoring habitats, he is a proud father who is highly involved in his kid's sports activities and loves watching them develop into wonderful people. He also enjoys hiking, biking, fishing, and just about anything that keeps him outdoors. Keith earned his Bachelor's degree in Surveying Engineering from Ferris State University.
John Clese
Treasurer
John is the founder and Chief Landscape Designer for Lake Effect Garden and Design, LLC. His firm focuses almost exclusively on ecological landscaping, ensuring the site's ecology takes precedence in the use of native plants and designing environments that reduce water consumption and eliminate the need for pesticides and fertilizers, creating healthy and diverse landscapes to benefit not only humans but all wildlife. He is passionate about moving the landscape and garden industry from creating resource-dependent landscapes to lower maintenance and more sustainable environments.
John has led a diverse career with experience in business startups, software development, fundraising, and management for the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors.
As a Business Consultant, John implemented structural and behavioral changes within companies to increase measurable employee engagement and productivity gains and positioned management and staff to excel in the rapidly expanding distributed workforce culture.
As a Project Management Director, he restructured an existing Project Management Office (PMO) by establishing standard processes, procedures, and software tools across all projects, centralizing control over client communications, and organizing team member responsibilities around individual core strengths, leading to reduced project implementation timelines; a 25% increase in on-time project completions; improved client satisfaction, and greater efficiencies in the companies software implementations.
As a Chief Executive Officer for a Not-For-Profit, he harnessed a diverse volunteer grassroots movement to build a fully operational 40,000-square-foot YMCA facility. He directed several teams of board members, community leaders, municipalities, and staff in a three-year capital campaign for a new YMCA facility, resulting in $11.5M in capital funding. He worked with architects, construction firms, and community groups on the facilities design to ensure adequate program space to meet the community's needs and operational efficiency for the organization.
John currently resides in West Michigan. When he isn’t creating native landscapes for others, he can be found in his own patch of dirt, happily planting, seeding, and testing plant combinations. John earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston College.
Nature Needs You
There are countless ways to get involved and contribute to a world where people and nature coexist in a beneficial relationship.