For 57 years, Louisiana Wildlife Federation has recognized individuals and organizations in Louisiana that have made outstanding contributions to the natural resource welfare and environmental quality of their community, parish, and the state each year This year, for the first time, the Federation is adding a Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious award will honor an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and sustained contributions to the field of wildlife conservation in Louisiana.
“Adding the Lifetime Achievement Award helps us honor the luminaries that have been so influential in the field of wildlife conservation in Louisiana over many year,” said Louisiana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Rebecca Triche. “There are many individuals who have truly dedicated themselves, either personally or professionally, to Louisiana’s wildlife and wildlife habitat.”
Nominations are now open for all categories of Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s 58th Conservation Achievement Awards.
Nominations are accepted for conservation achievement in ten award categories:
· Lifetime Achievement – honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and sustained contributions to the field of wildlife conservation. Only one of these awards may be given per year.
· Professional – given to an individual in a compensated professional capacity that has made a significant contribution to the management, enhancement, or protection of Louisiana’s fish, wildlife, air, water, soil or forest resources, or related recreational opportunities in 2023.
· Volunteer – awarded to a person acting in a volunteer capacity during the year that has shown outstanding achievement in the management, enhancement, or protection of Louisiana’s fish, wildlife, air, water, soil or forest resources or related recreational opportunities in 2023.
· Business – this award honors a company, not a person, that has shown significant achievement in pollution abatement, land use planning and management, conservation education/awareness, and habitat stewardship including providing lands for wildlife conservation and public recreation in 2023.
· Educator – this is awarded to an outstanding conservation educator, either in a professional or volunteer role, whose emphasis has been on teaching students or the public, rather than on research or administration. Examples include instructors of hunter safety and outdoor ethics, as well as teachers of natural sciences, fish and wildlife management, environmental design and management, and various aspects of environmental education in 2023.
· Elected Official – awarded to a local, state or federal elected official for their achievements around conservation efforts in 2023. All Louisiana elected officials, except the Governor, are eligible in this category.
· Communications – this is given for the outstanding work by a writer, reporter, radio or TV broadcaster, photographer, artist, cartoonist, radio or TV station, newspaper, website or other publication for increased public awareness around environmental quality and natural resource conservation or has contributed toward the solution of a major conservation problem in Louisiana in 2023.
· Organization – this recognizes a state or local organization for outstanding conservation achievement in addressing significant natural resource management and environmental quality challenges in 2023. Examples of organizations might include but are not limited to civic organizations, environmental groups, sportsmen’s clubs and garden clubs. In special cases where government agencies or institutions have accomplished extraordinary work above and beyond their normal responsibilities, such organizations will be considered for this award.
· Youth – this is awarded to an individual youth, 18 years of age or younger, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishment in any phase of conservation work in2023.
· Youth Organization – this is given to a youth group, with members 18 years of age or younger, who have provided outstanding conservation or related recreational work in addressing significant natural resource management and environmental quality challenges in 2023.
Nominations are due by February 4, 2024, and can be made online at lawildlifefed.org.
Award recipients will be honored at a banquet to be held in Baton Rouge on April 12, 2024. For more information, call 225-344-6707 or email [email protected].
