Berthelsen Assumes New Role as Pheasants Forever Director of Habitat Partnerships

Berthelsen has been with “The Habitat Organization” since 1991

Pheasants Forever (PF) announces Pete Berthelsen of St. Paul, Neb. recently transitioned into the organization’s new role of Director of Habitat Partnerships. Berthelsen, a 22-year veteran at Pheasants Forever, will work on developing new national partnerships to deliver PF’s habitat mission as well act as an additional resource for field staff interested in building state-wide habitat programs and partnerships.

As the country faces significant habitat loss and conservation funding challenges, this new position will serve as a focal point for new partnership initiatives that bring mission delivery as well as efficiency and leveraging of opportunities for wildlife conservation.

“If you want to deliver significant habitat mission results in the 21^st Century, you need to do it using partnerships as the foundation to your plan,” says Pete Berthelsen, Pheasants Forever Director of Habitat Partnerships. “I’m excited to be presented the opportunity to help deliver our habitat mission using innovative and successful partnerships across the country.”

“Partnerships and grant development are among Pete’s strengths as evidenced by his leadership in developing and supervising a Nebraska-based grants programs that has generated over $27.3 million in mission delivery funding with a suite of state, federal, and private partners,” says Dave Nomsen, Vice-president of Governmental Affairs. “In his new capacity, Pete will bring his talents, experience and passion to continue all the Nebraska-based partnership initiatives and also to serve as a resource for the organization to focus, develop and fund our strategic priorities and partnership initiatives in other regions of the country.”

Berthelsen joined “The Habitat Organization” in 1991 after receiving his M.S. in Wildlife Science from Texas Tech University. Since that time, he has served the organization as a Regional Biologist, Director of Conservation Programs, Senior Field Coordinator and now as the Director of Habitat Partnerships over his 22 year career.

Berthelsen is a past Nebraska Wildlife Professional of the Year (1997) and PF Most Valued Employee award (2003) winner. He resides in St. Paul, Neb. with his wife Laura where they personally manage more than 160 acres of the finest grasslands and pollinator habitats. For more information, please contact Pete at (308) 390-0848 or email Pete.

Pheasants Forever

Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.