DU Announces 2009 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards: David Graber
David Graber, Research/Technical Award Winner.
ARLINGTON, Va – -(AmmoLand.com)- Ducks Unlimited announced the winners of the 2009 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards at the 74th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
DU’s Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and conservation of North America’s wetlands and waterfowl. The awards are presented in six categories. This year’s recipient for the Research/Technical award is Missouri’s own David Graber.
“These individuals have each had a tremendous impact on North America’s waterfowl habitat,” said DU Executive Vice President Don Young as he presented the awards. “DU is proud to recognize their contributions and hopes their personal achievements inspire others to engage in conservation.”
David A. Graber’s passion for waterfowl can be seen through his 30 years of dedication to improving waterfowl and wetland resources. As an employee of Missouri Department of Conservation, Graber has used comprehensive and practical knowledge of waterfowl biology, land management and hunting to bring credible science to resource managers, resource users and policy makers.
“Dave has served on a number of Mississippi Flyway committees including Regulations, Wood Duck and Environmental. His collaborative efforts with the University of Missouri have resulted in a number of prominent professionals that will serve waterfowl conservation for years to come. He is a model of professional collaboration,” said DU Manager of Conservation Programs, John Coluccy, who nominated him for the award.
Graber has worked tirelessly to advance waterfowl conservation and knowledge. He has been a significant force in a variety of areas including wood duck conservation, waterfowl nutrition, snow and white-fronted goose management, harvest strategy and many other complex waterfowl and wetland conservation issues.
“Throughout his three decades of professional contributions, wildlife managers have sought David’s counsel on management issues, researchers have relied on his translations of their science into practical solutions and administrators have depended on him to provide balanced and science-based recommendations for their policy decisions. He is most deserving of this recognition,” Coluccy said.
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With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands ? nature’s most productive ecosystem ? and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.