Nov. 30 is Nomination Deadline for Lone Star Land Steward Awards

Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.texas.gov

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AUSTIN, Texas — Nov. 30 is the deadline to submit nominations for the Lone Star Land Steward Awards, which recognize Texas private landowners who excel at habitat management and wildlife conservation on their lands.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department partners with Sand County Foundation to present the awards program. Recipients receive recognition from the public and their peers for outstanding natural resource management. Thanks to Sand County Foundation, award recipients in each ecological region and the wildlife management association recipient also receive $1,000 each from the foundation, while the Leopold Conservation Award recipient receives $10,000 and the Leopold crystal.

Anyone may nominate a landowner for recognition, including individuals or organizations, and landowners must accept the nomination to be considered. Employees of TPWD or members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission may not receive awards, but may nominate others. Nominations are accepted each year from June 1 through Nov. 30.

The awards are designed to promote long-term conservation of natural and cultural resources, encourage ecosystem awareness and acknowledge the best conservation practices in the state’s 10 ecoregions, enhance relationships between private landowners and natural resource agencies, and illustrate the important role of private landowners in the future of Texas’ natural resources.

Award recipients often include ranchers, farmers, foresters, other land managers, wildlife management associations, and corporations or non-governmental organizations (NGO)

The department encourages nominations for landowners who have managed their property for a minimum of five years.

Nominees are considered for awards based on the ecoregion in which their land is located. Up to ten ecoregion awards are presented each year. Ecoregion winners may be further considered for the Leopold Conservation Award, the state’s top honor.

TPWD’s primary partner in the awards is Sand County Foundation, an international non-profit organization devoted to conservation of private lands. Other 2008 sponsors include Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, H. Yturria Land and Cattle Company, Texas Wildlife Association, Lower Colorado River Authority, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas Farm Bureau and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

The Leopold Conservation Award honors the legacy of Aldo Leopold (1887-1948), considered the father of wildlife ecology. The competitive award recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. In 2008, Sand County Foundation presented Leopold Conservation Awards in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Utah and California.

Complete awards program information, including a downloadable nomination form and instructions, is available on the TPWD Web site.

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