Garret Graves, Former CPRA Chairman and Coastal Advisor, Selected for Top Conservation Award
(Baton Rouge, March 6, 2014) Garret Graves, recently Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and Governor Bobby Jindal’s coastal advisor on policy issues regarding coastal Louisiana, has been selected to receive the Governor’s Award – Conservationist of the Year for 2013.
The award, a handsome statuette of a bald eagle, will be presented the evening of Saturday, March 29 at a festive banquet held at the Lake House Reception Center in Baton Rouge.
The Governor’s Award is presented annually to the person or organization deemed to have made the most outstanding contribution toward the protection and wise use of the Louisiana’s natural resources among nominees submitted by the public. The selection for this and seven other conservation awards was made by a panel of independent judges with expertise in a wide range of conservation fields. The 50th Annual Governor’s State Conservation Achievement Awards program is hosted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and the awards are presented jointly with the National Wildlife Federation.
During his six year tenure as Governor Jindal’s Executive Assistant for Coastal Activities, Garret Graves served as the lead trustee for the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and was instrumental in negotiating a record $1 billion for early restoration and oil spill recovery projects. In his role as CPRA Chairman, he helped transform the state’s coastal restoration and hurricane protection program into national models. Under Graves’s leadership, more acres of Louisiana’s coast have been restored than any other period in Louisiana’s history.
Six other individuals, one business, and one organization will also be recognized by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation for their outstanding conservation achievements last year. They are:
Nathaniel Klumb of Baton Rouge — For his beautification efforts of Bayou Manchac, Bayou Fountain, and other streams in the Baton Rouge area. Klumb is the founder of PaddleBR, a grassroots group with the mission of improving paddling opportunities in the Baton Rouge area for the public’s enjoyment.
Sean Turner of Prairieville – For his volunteer work in promoting coastal restoration in Louisiana. At age 10, he is a vocal and passionate advocate who uses his family’s televised outdoor show as a venue to raise awareness.
Pastorek Habitats, LLC of Covington – For their work in the preservation and reestablishment of native Cajun prairies that has included securing and providing native seed stock to support restoration of native prairie habitat.
Educators Tonya Dean and Jamie Griffin of Denham Springs – For their efforts in implementing the school-wide program at North Live Oak Elementary called “Conserving, Preserving, and Serving” to engage students and the community on topics such as alternative energy sources, water conservation, and recycle and reuse concepts.
Michel Claudet of Houma – For his work as President of Terrebonne Parish to secure local habitat restoration projects and levee protection for the citizens of Terrebonne Parish, the participation in programs to promote conservation and environmental stewardship, and his initiation of the “floating island” project in Point-aux-Chenes.
Greg Guirard of St. Martinville – For his contributions as a photographer, writer, and ambassador of the beauty of the Atchafalaya Basin and his advocacy for action to preserve wetlands and wildlife in the Basin.
Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society – For their efforts in Cajun prairie preservation and reestablishment, along with their work in preserving the remaining genetics of native vegetation, which has also served as a source of inspiration to other projects across the country.
The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is a statewide conservation education and advocacy organization with more than 8,500 members and 26 affiliate groups. Established in 1940, it is affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation and represents a broad constituency of conservationists including hunters, fishers, campers, birders, boaters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. www.LaWildlifeFed.org.Garret Graves, Former CPRA Chairman and Coastal Advisor,
Selected for Top Conservation Award
(Baton Rouge, March 6, 2014) Garret Graves, recently Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and Governor Bobby Jindal’s coastal advisor on policy issues regarding coastal Louisiana, has been selected to receive the Governor’s Award – Conservationist of the Year for 2013.
The award, a handsome statuette of a bald eagle, will be presented the evening of Saturday, March 29 at a festive banquet held at the Lake House Reception Center in Baton Rouge.
The Governor’s Award is presented annually to the person or organization deemed to have made the most outstanding contribution toward the protection and wise use of the Louisiana’s natural resources among nominees submitted by the public. The selection for this and seven other conservation awards was made by a panel of independent judges with expertise in a wide range of conservation fields. The 50th Annual Governor’s State Conservation Achievement Awards program is hosted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and the awards are presented jointly with the National Wildlife Federation.
During his six year tenure as Governor Jindal’s Executive Assistant for Coastal Activities, Garret Graves served as the lead trustee for the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and was instrumental in negotiating a record $1 billion for early restoration and oil spill recovery projects. In his role as CPRA Chairman, he helped transform the state’s coastal restoration and hurricane protection program into national models. Under Graves’s leadership, more acres of Louisiana’s coast have been restored than any other period in Louisiana’s history.
Six other individuals, one business, and one organization will also be recognized by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation for their outstanding conservation achievements last year. They are:
Nathaniel Klumb of Baton Rouge — For his beautification efforts of Bayou Manchac, Bayou Fountain, and other streams in the Baton Rouge area. Klumb is the founder of PaddleBR, a grassroots group with the mission of improving paddling opportunities in the Baton Rouge area for the public’s enjoyment.
Sean Turner of Prairieville – For his volunteer work in promoting coastal restoration in Louisiana. At age 10, he is a vocal and passionate advocate who uses his family’s televised outdoor show as a venue to raise awareness.
Pastorek Habitats, LLC of Covington – For their work in the preservation and reestablishment of native Cajun prairies that has included securing and providing native seed stock to support restoration of native prairie habitat.
Educators Tonya Dean and Jamie Griffin of Denham Springs – For their efforts in implementing the school-wide program at North Live Oak Elementary called “Conserving, Preserving, and Serving” to engage students and the community on topics such as alternative energy sources, water conservation, and recycle and reuse concepts.
Michel Claudet of Houma – For his work as President of Terrebonne Parish to secure local habitat restoration projects and levee protection for the citizens of Terrebonne Parish, the participation in programs to promote conservation and environmental stewardship, and his initiation of the “floating island” project in Point-aux-Chenes.
Greg Guirard of St. Martinville – For his contributions as a photographer, writer, and ambassador of the beauty of the Atchafalaya Basin and his advocacy for action to preserve wetlands and wildlife in the Basin.
Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society – For their efforts in Cajun prairie preservation and reestablishment, along with their work in preserving the remaining genetics of native vegetation, which has also served as a source of inspiration to other projects across the country.
The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is a statewide conservation education and advocacy organization with more than 8,500 members and 26 affiliate groups. Established in 1940, it is affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation and represents a broad constituency of conservationists including hunters, fishers, campers, birders, boaters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. www.LaWildlifeFed.org.
Contact: Rebecca Triche
225-344-6707
225-362-9007 (cell)
rebecca@lawildlifefed.org
