Looking back from the late 1980s, Johnson made a public statement about how his personal convictions and commitment led to his vocation. "My preference is to look to the future in 100 year segments... I decided to be an environmentalist full time and became a preserver of unique land." In 1963, he became the western states representative for the
Nature Conservancy. Among his pursuits in this role, Huey was a leader in the end-game of a protracted legal and plebiscite struggle to secure a piece of natural Northern California coast land planned for industrial/residential development, the Marincello Trail in the Marin Headlands; he closed the deal that preserved it as natural heritage. Some years later, Johnson connected with environmentalists in the Bay Area circles of
Dick Raymond and
Stewart Brand; Raymond and Brand had established the
POINT Foundation. The Foundation sponsored a group of environmentalists, including Huey, to attend the
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in
Stockholm, in 1972. After serving for two years on the Foundation's board, in 1973 Johnson developed the idea for the
Trust for Public Land. Upon leaving the board, the Foundation provided Johnson some initial funds toward establishing the Trust. The first focus of the Trust was on urban and suburban parks, then on agricultural land. One of Huey's early significant accomplishments via the Trust, involving considerable struggle, was the establishment of the
Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In this endeavor he was aided by lawyer and environmentalist Martin J. Rosen, who became a member of the Trust's board of directors. As of early 2025, the Trust had created 5,504 outdoor spaces, and protected 4-million acres in the U.S. Huey also founded the Grand Canyon Trust and the Environmental Liaison Center, in
Nairobi. Johnson had a far-reaching public role during the late 1970s and early '80s, heading the
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), having been appointed Secretary with the approval of the California State Senate during
Jerry Brown's first administration. Johnson served from 1977 to 1982. In Sacramento he was known for starting his day with a vigorous bicycle ride to work. According to Rich Hammond, Under Secretary of the CNRA at the start of Johnson's tenure, Huey completely reorganized and invigorated the Agency's activities. One fundamental aspect was Johnson's insistence that key officials under the direction of his agency educate themselves in the fundamentals of scientific and applied
ecology and their practical applications to the world. He told them to read the writings of ecologists Eugene and Howard Odum, also
A Sand County Almanac, and
Raymond F. Dasmann’s
Destruction of California. Johnson also provided opportunities for bright, capable people from underprivileged backgrounds to be employed in his office, and simultaneously work toward a graduate degree. A government resource-related regulatory position will always occasion some adversarial responses to policy. Johnson believed in building relationships. He publicly explained that, during his tenure, he valued opportunities to socialize informally with those who objected to parameters he put forward. Johnson's tenure was responsible for the state's "Investing in Prosperity" resource-conservation program, which laid out concepts and plans for sustainable forests, water courses, fisheries and soil. His accomplishments in the CNRA position influenced Stewart Brand to turn a corner from bohemian disaffection with government to acceptance that committed, competent governance could have a role in protection and restoration of the environment. Johnson eventually became the president of the Nature Conservancy. Johnson founded the Resource Renewal Institute, in 1983, whose role is advocating for strategies for attaining environmental sustainability. He believed that green plans could contribute to managing
climate change. In 2001, the
United Nations Environmental Programme awarded Johnson the $200,000 Sasakawa Prize, considered one of the world's most important environmental awards. As well, Johnson's work in resource management has been praised by
United Nations officials for having a global perspective. The United Nations has called Johnson "a catalyst and champion for environmental protection”. ==Death==