2022 Regional Longleaf Awards Announced
September 13, 2022
Every two years, individuals, private landowners, land managers, wildlife biologists, conservation groups, consultants, university researchers, forestry professionals, agency and outreach personnel gather for the best and largest longleaf event in the nation: The Biennial Longleaf Conference.
The Regional Longleaf Awards Program, offered in conjunction with the Biennial Longleaf Conference, recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to longleaf restoration and conservation across the southeastern U.S. Award recipients will be recognized during an Awards Presentation at the 14th Biennial Longleaf conference held at the Ballast Hotel in Wilmington, NC on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.
“We are honored to be able to recognize such an outstanding group of individuals and organizations this year. Each recipient, in their own way, has made significant impacts on longleaf pine ecosystems, and we greatly appreciate their dedication to ensuring that these forests will continue to grow and thrive for years to come."
Carol Denhof, President of The Longleaf Alliance
Individual Awards
Bill Boyer Natural Resource Professional of the Year – Recognizes a natural resource professional who has made outstanding contributions within longleaf ecosystem conservation. – Stephanie Hertz, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute
The Palustris Corporate Achievement – Recognizes a corporation with long standing commitment toward conservation of the longleaf ecosystem. – Milliken Advisors, Inc.
The Gjerstad/Johnson Landowner of the Year - Recognizes a private landowner for ensuring the future of the longleaf ecosystem on private land. – Herbert Hodges & the Willie Hodges Estate Family Farm, Georgia
The Burner Bob® Prescribed Fire Champion – Recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding efforts in championing prescribed fire to ensure the future of the longleaf ecosystem on private land. – Johnny Stowe, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
True Longleaf Champions – In recognition of a lifetime of dedication to the conservation and restoration of the South’s iconic forest. – Randy Browning, Dr. Martin Cipollini, Julie Moore, and Dr. Lytton J. Musselman
Conservation Partner Awards
Natural Resources Conservation Service Team Achievement Award – Recognizes an NRCS team who has gone above-and-beyond the call of duty in delivering longleaf restoration for private landowners. – Working Lands for Wildlife – Gopher Tortoise Initiative
Department of Defense Team Achievement – Recognizes a DOD team who has gone above-and-beyond the call of duty in managing and restoring the longleaf ecosystem on Military Installations. – DoD Team at Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, North Carolina
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Team Achievement – Recognizes a USFWS team who has gone above-and-beyond the call of duty in managing and restoring the longleaf ecosystem for wildlife and the National Wildlife Refuge System. – USFWS Team at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
USDA Forest Service Team Achievement – Recognizes a USFS team who has gone above-and-beyond the call of duty in managing and restoring the longleaf ecosystem on and around the National Forest System. – DeSoto National Forest, Mississippi
Non-Profit Conservation Partner Award – Recognizes a non-profit organization that has significantly improved, protected and conserved the longleaf ecosystem. – Arbor Day Foundation
About The Longleaf Alliance
The Longleaf Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization. First organized in 1995, The Longleaf Alliance operates throughout the southeastern United States from Virginia to Texas helping landowners restore their land to functioning longleaf forests while generating income from the very same forest that provides homes for some of the South’s most threatened plant and animal species.