ALABAMA FOREST RESOURCES CENTER AWARDED FOREST CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR BY THE ALABAMA WILDLIFE FEDERATION

The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most prestigious conservation honor in the state of Alabama. Over the past 30 years, the AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.

Roughly two-thirds of Alabama is covered by forests. These forests are of great importance to our state, both socially and economically.

The Alabama Forest Resources Center has taken the initiative on a number of innovative projects to educate and inform the public about our forest and wildlife resources. The Center focuses on providing services via conservation easements, educational outreach, and advocacy and planning.

One of the most important accomplishments of the Center is securing conservation easements. Easements hold great promise as one of the most effective techniques for the preservation of privately owned forestland in Alabama.

Two of the Center’s most significant land conservation easements include a 10,517-acre easement and a 7,441-acre easement near Hurtsboro. These easements are the largest ever granted in Alabama and among the ten largest in the U.S.

In recognition of their commitment to forest conservation, the Alabama Forest Resources Center was selected as the 2004 Forest Conservationist of the Year.