38th-Annual Natrual Areas Conference: Adaptation and Protection of Biodiversity in a Changing World. November 1-4, 2011. Tallahassee, FL. Photo: 2009 Fell Awardees David Brunckhorst (left) and Michael Scott (right) with NAA past president Kim Herman.

Natural Areas Association Annual Awards

Awards Nominations

Join us on Thursday, Nov. 3 for this year’s NAA Awards Dinner

Fell Award Information & Nomination Guidelines
Becker Stewardship Award Information & Nomination Guidelines
Questions or to receive the 2012 Call for Nominations announcement via email

Nominations are now closed for the George B. Fell Award and Carl N. Becker Stewardship Award.

These honors acknowledge exceptional individuals who have demonstrated excellence in natural areas stewardship and who have significantly advanced natural area identification, protection and stewardship. Recipients are honored at the NAA Awards Dinner held during the conference.

George B. Fell Award

Fell Award Nomination Guidelines

Each nomination form should have the following information about the nominee: name, title, organization/affiliation(s), address, telephone number and e-mail address. Also include the nominator’s name, e-mail address and phone number.

In your nomination, please describe:

  • The achievement(s) that form the basis for this nomination.
  • The scope of the activity and the complexity of the resources/issue(s) addressed.
  • How creativity or leadership was demonstrated.
  • What other decisions or actions illustrate the nominee’s overall, long term commitment to natural area preservation and activities designed to restore and/or preserve natural diversity of ecosystems? How has this commitment been communicated to the public?
  • To what extent the nominee’s accomplishments addressed resource preservation issues of widespread concern regionally or globally.

The award:

  • Recognizes those qualities exhibited by George B. Fell, such as life-long dedication and commitment, creativity, and the ability to forge new approaches that significantly advance natural area protection.
  • Recognizes sustained or ongoing individual achievement in the natural area profession.
  • Recognizes accomplishments that have significantly advanced natural area identification, protection, stewardship or research.
  • Recognizes any area of professional activity.
  • Maintains a very high standard of integrity.

Photo of George FellThe Natural Areas Association presents the George B. Fell Award to an individual who exhibits the highest qualities of the natural areas profession and who has significantly advanced natural area identification, protection, stewardship or research. This award is given in honor of George B. Fell, founder of the Natural Land Institute and a founding NAA member and officer who dedicated his life to the protection of Natural Areas. This is the association’s highest award, and it is reserved for exceptional achievements in any of the areas in which the Natural Areas Association is concerned. It is a top-of-career award.

Rick Thom holding Fell Award

2010 George B. Fell Award recipient Rick Thom

Carl N. Becker Stewardship Award

Becker Stewardship Award Nomination Guidelines

Each nomination form should have the following information about the nominee: name, title, organization/affiliation(s), address, telephone number and e-mail address. Also include the nominator’s name, e-mail address and phone number.

In your nomination, please describe:

  • The achievement(s) that form the basis for this nomination.
  • The scope of the activity and the complexity of the issue addressed.
  • How creativity was demonstrated. What new ideas or different approaches the nominee or group used to solve the problem(s).
  • What methods or techniques the nominee used to overcome obstacles and how they contributed to the success of the overall mission.
  • What other decisions or actions illustrate the nominee’s or group’s overall, long-term commitment to natural area preservation and activities designed to restore and/or preserve sustainable ecosystems. How has this commitment been communicated to the public?

This award recognizes individuals or groups who have:

  • Resolved or made a significant contribution to an issue related to identification, protection and/or management of natural areas.
  • Developed creative or innovative strategies that have directly contributed to resolution of issues or otherwise greatly improved protection of natural areas.
  • Made a major advance in the protection of natural areas and wildlands.

The Natural Areas Association presents the Carl N. Becker Stewardship Award to individuals or groups in recognition of excellence and achievement in managing the natural resources of reserves, parks, wilderness and other protected areas. It is given in honor of Carl N. Becker, former NAA president and conservation leader whose skills benefited natural area conservation locally, regionally and nationally.

Joe Woolbright holding Becker Award

2010 Carl N. Becker Stewardship Award recipient Joe Woolbright