2011 NAWMP Awards Announced

North American Waterfowl Management Plan Annual Awards

The 2012 North American Waterfowl Management Plan Annual Awards.

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (Plan) is implemented through long-term partnerships of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals committed to the conservation of North American waterfowl, other wetland-associated migratory bird populations and their wetlands habitats.The success of the Plan is directly related to the contributions of these dedicated partners, both short- and long-term.Some partners’ efforts have spanned a decade or more, while others have contributed to the Plan’s success through short-term actions.

To give recognition to their work, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Committee invites you to nominate a Plan partner to receive one of its two prestigious awards.These awards are conferred on an annual basis on deserving nominees who meet the following criteria. All nomination forms must be received by Jorge Coppen (jorge_coppen@fws.gov), NAWMP Coordinator, by February 15, 2013.

International Canvasback Award

The International Canvasback Award is presented to an exceptional individual, corporation, or organization that has made substantial contributions over a long period of time to the implementation and continuation of the Plan throughout North America.

Examples of qualifying activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Initiating, conducting, or enhancing conservation efforts over a long period of time that result in habitat accomplishments of international significance to North American waterfowl populations;
• The initiation of legislation which results in benefits to North American waterfowl populations on an international scale; or
• Establishing a corporate or public policy that results in substantial accomplishments of international significance to North American waterfowl populations.

National Blue-winged Teal Award

The National Blue-winged Teal Award recognizes partners whose activities at the national, regional, or local level result in substantial benefits to waterfowl, other wetland-associated migratory bird populations or wetlands habitats, as a one-time, periodic or ongoing effort.

Examples of qualifying activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• A gift of land or use of land, goods, or cash that is significant to attaining the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan;
• Major legislative initiatives such as efforts by individual members of the U.S. Congress, Canadian Parliament, or Mexican Camara and their staffs or by state, provincial, or local legislative bodies to establish laws or programs of national or regional significance to waterfowl, other migratory birds, wetlands, or other habitats that help to attain Plan goals; or
• Major actions that provide regionally significant benefits to waterfowl, other migratory birds, and their habitats.  This might be an administrative, legislative, or policy action by a state or local government official, a government land manager, a non-governmental organization, or a corporate board that decides to manage property or to market a product that significantly benefits waterfowl, other wetland-associated migratory birds, or wetlands habitats.

Nominations and Timeframe

Nominations for these two awards may be made by any individual or organization using the Plan Committee's nomination form. Nominations from each country should be submitted to its respective national office responsible for administering the Plan. Addresses are found on the nomination form. Typically, each national office issues a Call for Nominations each December, and forms are due in February of the coming year. Winners of each award are selected and their nominators notified in March, in advance of the annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. Award winners are announced during the conference.

Selection Process

For the National Blue-winged teal Award, Plan Committee members are responsible for reviewing all nominations from within their own country and selecting the recipient(s). The names of the recipients are shared with the full Plan Committee. For the International Canvasback Award, nominations from all countries are first reviewed by the Plan Committee’s Awards Subcommittee, comprised of members from each country. The Awards Subcommittee selects and presents the candidate recipient(s) to the full Plan Committee for final approval.

For More Information contact your country’s Plan Committee Co-chair.

Past and Current Recipients