Nominations open for Natural Resources Leadership Award

Nominations are now open for the 2017 Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Natural Resources, presented by the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Climate Adaptation Strategy’s Joint Implementation Working Group.

With this award, first presented in 2016, the Working Group strives to recognize outstanding leadership by those committed to reducing threats from climate change and improving the resilience of the nation’s living natural resources. Award recipients can be nominated within seven categories: federal government, state government, tribal government, broad partnership organizations, other organizations, individual leadership, and student leadership. Nominations will be judged based on how well the nominee’s efforts address the goals of the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Climate Adaptation Strategy, and factors such as effectiveness, innovation, collaboration, and results.

The National Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Climate Adaptation Strategy was first developed in 2013 following a request from Congress to develop a plan to assist natural resources such as fish, wildlife, and plants in adapting to and surviving an increasingly changing climate. It is a partnership between federal, state, and tribal fish, wildlife, and conservation agencies. The strategy aims to enable natural resource professionals, elected officials, and others to actively work to conserve valuable natural resources and the communities that depend on them.

The Working Group anticipates giving seven awards and seven honorable mentions in 2017. Recipients will receive a personalized award and will be invited to showcase their work at the National Adaptation Forum, to be held May 2017 in St. Paul, MN.

UPDATE Nov. 11: The nomination deadline has been extended. Nominations are now due by 8:00pm EST on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. Nominations are submitted online. Contact dpalmeri@fishwildlife.org with any questions.