Seven Wetland Stewards Win 2008 National Wetlands Awards
Washington, DC - Seven citizens have been recognized nationally for their on-the-ground wetland conservation efforts and decades-long dedication to protecting these important natural resources. A diverse panel of wetland experts assembled at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) earlier this month to select the winners of the 2008 National Wetlands Awards. This year's Award winners hail from all regions of the country and exemplify the extraordinary commitment and innovation that is so instrumental to conserving wetlands in the nation's communities. "These wetland champions are restoring and protecting one of America's greatest natural assets through education, conservation, and dedication," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water. "These profiles, both in courage and in stewardship, show us all how to meet the President's national goal of increasing, not simply maintaining, the quantity and quality of our wetlands." The 2008 awardees are: Valer and Josiah Austin, landowners from Arizona who have restored miles of wetlands on their ranch lands and worked on cross-border watershed management to restore wetland habitat; Caroline Dean, a horticulturalist and teacher from Alabama who has led advocacy and education efforts to protect native flora and wildflowers found in wetlands throughout the Southeastern United States; John Dorney, the Supervisor of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality's Program Development Unit who has been instrumental in the development of the state's wetland and stream protection programs; Mildred Majoros, a Project Manager with the Trust for Public Land in Florida who has led efforts to protect hundreds of acres of coastal habitat in Puerto Rico; Diane Nygaard, the founder of the non-profit Preserve Calavera who has raised awareness and aided in the purchase and restoration of wetlands in California; Raymond Semlitsch, a Professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia whose research on amphibian ecology has raised awareness about the need to protect small wetlands and surrounding terrestrial habitat. Collectively, the award winners have conserved thousands of wetland acres and have mobilized hundreds of individuals to contribute to wetland conservation. "The restoration and protection of the Nation's aquatic resources, especially wetlands, is a high priority for us," said Assistant Secretary of the Army, John Paul Woodley, Jr. "I am excited that work we are doing will supplement the fine wetlands work being done by the recipients of this year's awards." In May, the winners will take a well-deserved break from their efforts to receive their awards at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. "We look forward to meeting the winners of this year's awards and honoring them for their extraordinary achievements in wetland conservation," said Dr. Jim Balsiger, Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service. "We are proud to support ELI's National Wetlands Awards recognizing these individuals for their contributions to society and the aquatic environment. Healthy wetlands and ecosystems are vital to our nation's recreational and commercial fish and shellfish fisheries, and other living marine resources." Program co-sponsors-the Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service-hope that recognizing wetland leaders for their efforts will inspire others to follow their example. Given the national importance of wetlands, the federal agencies that sponsor the Awards welcome the opportunity to recognize and encourage voluntary wetland conservation efforts. "Wetlands are a vital link between our land and water resources, and they provide a variety of ecological services to forests and grasslands. The Forest Service is proud to support the National Wetlands Awards program and to recognize the extraordinary work of the Award recipients," commented Abigail R. Kimbell, Chief of USDA Forest Service. The winners of the National Wetlands Awards demonstrate how citizens and communities can-and do-make a difference. Arlen Lancaster, Chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, stated, "Wetlands are some of the most productive and dynamic habitats in the world and are vital to the overall health of the environment. I salute the 2008 National Wetlands Awards winners and thank them for their outstanding contributions to the conservation of our Nation's wetlands." "Wetlands provide optimum migrating, wintering, and breeding habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds and other wetland dependent wildlife species, as well as essential habitat for many neo-tropical birds. What we do for conservation today is important. What we do for conservation tomorrow is vital," said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ***** For more information on the National Wetlands Awards Program, the 2008 awardees, or the May awards ceremony, please contact Amanda Martin at the Environmental Law Institute at (202) 939-3862 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Information is also available online at www.nationalwetlandsawards.org. National Wetlands Awards Environmental Law Institute 2000 L Street NW, Suite 620 Washington, DC 20036 ph (202) 939-3862 | f (202) 939-3868 [EMAIL PROTECTED] | www.eli.org <http://www.eli.org/>
