Alabama conservation commissioner Chris Blankenship named Conservationist of the Year

Chris Blankenship, the commissioner of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was named Conservationist of the Year at the annual Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award Banquet on Friday, Aug. 7.

Blankenship was one of 11 honorees recognized at the prestigious, 40-year-old event that celebrates individuals and organizations who have made great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and natural resources.

This year’s winners are:

• Hunter Safety Instructor Award: Hans, Keasler
• Conservation Enforcement Officer: Officer Jason B. Perkins
• Conservation Educator: Joel Martin, Solon Dixon Center
• Air Conservationist: Spencer Edwards
• Judicial Conservationist: Krystina Jackson
• Land Conservationist: Dr. Lewis C. Cole
• Forest Conservationist: David Farnsworth
• Fisheries Conservationist: Dr. Paul Johnson
• Wildlife Conservationist: Dagmar Thurmond
• Legislative Conservationist: Senator Katie Britt
• Conservationist of the Year: Chris Blankenship

Each AWF Governor Conservation Award winner has a story

Each winner’s conservation journey was shared at the event, ranging from bringing back rare Black Belt Prairie habitat, reintroducing endangered mollusks into Alabama’s rivers and streams, to educating future foresters.

Some of our favorite stories include:

• Joel Martin’s legacy at Solon-Dixon Forestry Education Center, teaching more than 1,000 forestry students 
• Dagmar Thurmond’s initiatives to bring back the indigo snake, gopher tortoise and red-cockaded Woodpecker on Alabama’s National Forests
• Dr. Paul Johnson’s efforts at the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center in Marion to propagate Alabama’s rare mussels and snails in 20 rivers and streams
• Senator Katie Britt championing a wide range of conservation projects from oyster restoration on the Gulf to expanding the Talladega National Forest 

Perhaps the most noteworthy accomplishments described at the ceremony, however, were during Commissioner Blankenship’s nearly decade-long tenure. Since he took the reins at the Department, the commissioner has accomplished the following initiatives:

• Acquired and protected more than 111,000 acres through the Alabama Forever Wild Program
• Enacted about $350 million in Alabama State Park improvements
• Secured more than $60 million in boating access improvements
• Invested $1.5 billion in over 300 coastal Alabama projects as a result of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act funds

“The Governor’s Conservation Awards mean a tremendous amount to me. I’m very thankful for the work that our staff has done on the wildlife side, marine resources, parks, state lands and on the coast. When you put all that together, it’s a tremendous amount of good work for our state, and I’m very thankful for our staff and the work that we’ve done.”

Chris Blankenship, Commissioner