The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) have selected recipients of the 2010 Refuge System Awards, presented each year to refuge conservation professionals, volunteers and Friends groups that exemplify outstanding dedication and passion for wildlife conservation in advancement of the mission and purposes of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). Alaskans are well represented among this year’s winners.
Vernon Byrd,a biologist at Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refugein Alaska, has been selected to receive the Refuge System Employee of the Year Awardfor demonstrating dedication and vision in the protection of marine species of coastal Alaska, such as auklets, puffins, storm-petrels and other seabirds. Mr. Byrd’s innovative inventory, monitoring and research programs have resulted in data that is now used to influence everything from commercial fishing to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change models. He has been instrumental in efforts to recover species such as the Aleutian cackling goose by eradicating invasive predators, and has been a dedicated champion for conservation in the harsh and far-flung environment of maritime Alaska.
The Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges will receive the Friends Group of the Year Award. Founded in 2005, the group has the colossal task of protecting and raising awareness of the more than 75 million acres of lands in Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuges. The Friends have undertaken projects to remove invasive plants, reduce invasive horse populations, and educate both local communities and national decision-makers on the importance of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska. The group has had outstanding results and continues to grow and reach out to new communities.
Awards will be presented at the 2010 Refuge System Awards Reception sponsored by NWRA, NFWF, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) in the Cannon Building Caucus Room in Washington, DC on the evening of Tuesday, March 9th.
