A call for nominations for a national award recognizing leadership in countywide land conservation programs, was made jointly today by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the National Association of Counties (NACo).

The County Leadership in Conservation Awards recognizes leadership, innovation, and excellence in local land conservation and park creation by county leaders across America.

This call for nominations come on the heels of the most successful voter-approved funding season ever for counties. In 2004, county voters approved $2.97 billion in new land conservation funding, nearly double any previous amount in history. County conservation funds approved represented 73 percent of all conservation funds approved in 2004, also a record, with the next highest being 56 percent in 2001.

Since 1996, there have been 262 county conservation finance measures on ballots nationwide. Of these measures, 203 have passed, supporting investments in public open space, parks, watersheds, recreational lands and wildlife preserves.

To support and recognize the initiatives of county leaders promoting these substantial public investments, three or more awards will be presented each year to officials (elected or appointed) representing governments of NACo-member counties based on small, medium, and large county populations. The awards will be presented in partnership with the National Association of County Planners and the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials.

Last year's winners were: Burlington County, NJ; Dakota County, MN; Gallatin County, MT; Pima County, AZ; Pinellas County, FL; and Platte County, MO. These counties highlighted conservation models for the rest of America and demonstrate the future of county conservation.

Nominations will be judged based on a broad range of criteria including leadership, innovation, benefits to underserved populations, and benefits to quality of life and environmental quality.

The deadline for submissions is November 18, 2005 and the awards will be presented at an annual conservation awards program, as part of the NACo National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in March 2006.

Additional information and nomination forms can be accessed on the Web at either www.tpl.org/awards or http://www.naco.org/conservationawards or by calling 617-367-6200 x303.

Related Link: A call for nominations for a national award recognizing leadership in countywide land conservation programs.

For more information contact:

Ernest Cook
The Trust for Public Land
33 Union Street, Fourth Floor
Boston
MA 02108
US

Phone: 617-367-6200
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.tpl.org