WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis has announced the 2013 Natural Resource Stewardship Awards.
“Resource stewardship is the cornerstone of our mission and these professionals represent the very best in teamwork, partnerships, and dedication to make sure there are exploration, discovery and interpretation opportunities for park visitors today and into the future,” Jarvis said.
The award winners come from large and small parks and cover research, maintenance and management elements of natural resource stewardship. The categories and winners are listed below. More details on the awards and those honored are on the National Park Service awards web page.
Natural Resource Management – Sue Consolo-Murphy, Grand Teton National Park
Sue Consolo-Murphy, chief of science and resource management, manages both natural resources and cultural resources at one of the most beloved national park units, but it was her leadership of the natural resource team that made her the winner of this prestigious award. Significant accomplishments include (1) ground breaking resource management in the arena of climate change research and adaptation planning, (2) restoration of aquatic and terrestrial eco-systems in the park, (3) innovative use of partnerships for research and resource management projects, and (4) support of ecosystem-level monitoring and resource management by partners.
Natural Resource Research – Gary Fellers, Point Reyes National Seashore
Gary Fellers, scientist emeritus, has been a leading research scientist in the Pacific West for 30 years. His research has been broad, innovative and complex, and encompasses pressing resource management issues of the past three decades, including rare and endangered species declines, invasive species, anthropogenic effects on natural resources, and climate change effects. This award also acknowledges his dedication to the National Park Service. After he was transferred to the National Biological Survey, Fellers continued to offer his expertise and experience to the superintendent of his host park, Point Reyes National Seashore. One example is the assistance that Fellers provided after the devastating Vision Fire that burned 12,000 acres of land and affected many of the species that he had studied.
Professional Excellence in Natural Resources – Grant Hilderbrand, Alaska Regional Office
Grant Hilderbrand, Alaska regional wildlife biologist, has raised the professionalism of the region’s wildlife management and research through completion of “Wildlife Stewardship in the Alaska Region,” providing guidance to park managers and professionals about wildlife management. Hilderbrand has also demonstrated his professionalism and dedication to wildlife resource management through unprecedented mentorship to the wildlife managers in the Alaska region.
Resource Stewardship through Maintenance – Ishmael Ennis, Assateague Island National Seashore
Ishmael Ennis, chief of maintenance, implemented climate change adaptation strategies at Assateague Island National Seashore which have served as a model for vulnerable coastal parks throughout the National Park Service. He worked with resource management staff to designate more sustainable parking locations on a dynamic barrier island and used innovative materials and designs to create environmentally friendly parking lots. His innovative designs for coastal infrastructure have been widely cited within the National Park Service and internationally. The numerous experiments needed for successful designs are often not recognized, but Ennis’s innovations only occurred through the persistence and creativity of a dedicated team with a highly-respected leader.
Trish Patterson Student Conservation Association Award for Natural Resource Management in Small Parks – Paul Whitefield, Flagstaff area national monuments
Paul Whitefield has served with integrity and dedication at the Flagstaff area national monuments for over 12 years. He wrote and managed the monuments’ complex fire management plan, based on the latest science and forest management findings. Whitefield played a critical role in spearheading efforts to integrate best management practices into managing forests and grasslands in a safe, fire-wise, and efficient manner. He also developed a proposal for geologists to map and catalog all unique features within the monuments. This project resulted in significant contributions to the understanding and appreciation of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and the development of a special interpretive trail within the lava fields. Another of Whitefield’s accomplishments involved the restoration of one of the few springs in Wupatki National Monument. Through his efforts and persistence, Heiser Spring is a much more natural place today. Whitefield has also been instrumental in supporting some innovative and exciting new developments in the inventory and monitoring of the federally-threatened Mexican spotted owl.
Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship – Patricia Kicklighter, Assateague Island National Seashore
Trish Kicklighter is an outstanding leader in the consideration of climate change in long-term planning and infrastructure management at barrier island parks. A major accomplishment, the Assateague Island National Seashore General Management Plan, is recognized as one of the best servicewide examples of a plan that addresses our changing climate and the challenges of managing a dynamic coastal landscape and seascape. As a result of her leadership, Assateague Island National Seashore is one of two pilot examples of the climate change scenario planning process. Kicklighter’s dedication and enthusiasm to share “lessons learned” with the larger National Park Service community, regional stakeholders and the public have redefined the importance of the National Park Service’s role as a leader in climate change adaptation planning.