News Release Archives - July 2007
July 23, 2007
Game and Fish Honored with National Conservation Award
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has received a prestigious international award from leaders of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Called the National Great Blue Heron Award, it recognizes significant contributions to waterfowl and wetland conservation. Gov. John Hoeven was on hand to accept the award from Paul Schmidt, an assistant director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, last week during a special presentation in Bismarck.
“We’re extremely proud of our wildlife, and very proud of the work Game and Fish does,” Hoeven told a gathering of NAWMP officials. “All the Game and Fish staff are passionate about what they do, and I think that’s why they’re so successful with these programs.”
Since the North American Waterfowl Management Plan was launched more than 20 years ago, the Game and Fish Department has contributed more than $10 million in matching funds – more than any other nonfederal entity – toward NAWMP projects. In addition, Game and Fish has dedicated one staff position to coordinate waterfowl plan goals for the North Dakota Action Group, a committee of representatives from state and federal agencies as well as private conservation and agricultural organizations.
Because of these efforts, Schmidt said, more than 900,000 acres have been enhanced for waterfowl within 44 different projects in the state. In addition, North Dakota has received more than $20 million in federal grants for those projects, much of which has ended up with farmers and ranchers who voluntarily cooperate on habitat projects.
“Putting together habitat on the ground, that to me represents success,” Schmidt said, “and is the kind of partnership and state success that really makes the North American Waterfowl Management Plan come alive.”
The award recognizes not only efforts to benefit waterfowl, but also many other migratory bird species that rely on wetlands.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne wrote in a letter to Gov. Hoeven: “The North American Waterfowl Management Plan success in North Dakota, one of the most important waterfowl breeding areas in North America, is due in large part to the significant leading role that the North Dakota Game and Fish Department has readily assumed. They are extremely deserving of this prestigious award, and you have a heart-felt congratulations and thanks for your support in continuing conservation for all the partners in North Dakota.”
Game and Fish Director Terry Steinwand said his agency is proud to receive the award. ”It couldn’t happen without the support of the governor,” he stated.
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