The 2012 National Wetlands Awards recipients were honored at a ceremony on May 10, 2012 at the U.S. Botanic Garden . The public was invited to attend. U.S. Senator Tom Udall was the keynote speaker.
Conservation & Restoration
Tim Swanson has worked tirelessly to bring divergent interests to the table in order to protect land threatened with development in southwest Montana. His work has helped to protect almost 70,000 acres of land, including over 11,000 acres of critical wetland habitat.
Education & Outreach
Education coordinator for the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Aquatic Education Center Gary Kreamer has developed numerous wetlands programs that have educated and inspired tens of thousands of students and teachers across Delaware and beyond.
Landowner Stewardship
Arizona landowner John Anthony Sedgwick has collaborated with federal, state, and local partners to restore wetlands on his property, developing the site into an environmental and historical educational destination for the public.
Science Research
Indiana University professor Dr. Christopher Craft is a world-renowned wetlands scientist. His research has produced almost 90 highly cited peer-reviewed publications, and has made a significant contribution to our understanding of how wetlands function.
State, Tribal, and Local Program Development
St. Johns River Water Management District’s coastal wetland program manager Ron Brockmeyer has led efforts with federal, state, and local partners to rehabilitate more than 20,000 acres of severely impacted coastal wetlands in East Central Florida.
Wetland Community Leader
Grassroots activist Florence LaRiviere has worked countless hours to protect wetlands in the San Francisco Bay area. Her efforts helped create the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in 1972, and then expand that refuge by 20,000 acres in 1988. At the age of 88, she continues her work defending wetlands.
<a href="http://www.eli.org/audio/NWA/nwa2012.mp3">mp3 recording</a>
The National Wetlands Awards program is administered by the Environmental Law Institute and supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Highway Administration, and USDA Forest Service.</i></center>