LWF Conservation Awards Announced Today!

Our hero! Marty Floyd, winner of LWF's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award!

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Fantastic news that the LMNA's Marty Floyd has scooped the Louisiana Wildlife Federation's Lifetime Achievement Award! 

According to LWF, their judges for the 58th Conservation Achievement Awards met Saturday, February 17th, and have selected the following winners in each category:

Conservationist of the Year for 2023 –  Alexander Kolker, PhD.  (See next blog article for LWF Press Release!) 
​
Professional Conservationist of the Year for 2023 –  Corey Miller
Volunteer Conservationist of the Year for 2023 –  Jim Kolinski 
Conservation Educators of the Year for 2023 –  Amanda Clark & Pam Pearce 
Elected Official Conservationist of the Year for 2023 –  Joseph Orgeron, PhD. 
Conservation Communicator of the Year for 2023 –  Don Shoopman 
Conservation Organization of the Year for 2023 –  AJ & Nona Trigg Hodges Foundation 
2023 Lifetime Achievement –  Marty Floyd 

The LWF awards program recognizes "individuals, organizations, and businesses that have made a significant and outstanding contribution toward the protection and wise use of Louisiana’s natural resources in the previous year. Each honoree will receive a handsome wildlife statuette. The recipients will be honored at a celebratory banquet at Boudreaux's held in Baton Rouge on April 12, 2024.

It's worth noting some of Marty's many and formidable achievements and qualifications for winning this award, though quiet and very modest, he has been a leading light in Louisiana environmental conservation. Marty has a proven track record of tangible and positive impact on wildlife conservation in Louisiana for 25 years! 

Dr. Bob Thomas, the LMNA's Past President, and Professor & Director of The Center for Environmental Communication
at Loyola University in New Orleans commented, "Marty has dedicated his career and passions to the conservation and understanding of Louisiana’s magnificent Sportsman Paradise. The value of his work is unparalleled!"  

Marty's service includes Presidency of LOS and LWF, Louisiana Master Naturalist State board membership and regional board membership for Acadiana Chapter (Lafayette Region) as a prime mover there and in the CenLA region. He has consistently exhibited leadership and been an active environmental volunteer and advocate. He has steered group policy and contributed his knowledge to a great many excursions and workshops. 

I was very impressed by his owl calls at our Fontainebleau Rendezvous! He privately published and has widely disseminated two delightful bird books written by his father: All About Cardinals and All about Bluebirds. His Bird Counts have contributed to regional biodiversity mapping. 

His conservation work as Program Manager for the LDWF program to study the impact on habitat damaged by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill has had lasting impact.                                                                                                                                
As Ducks Unlimited liaison he enrolled landowners in the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Migratory Bird Habitat Improvement Program for EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) to make alternate habitats for birds displaced due to the oil spill. 

In 2003 Marty helped locate and monitor Sandhill Cranes with the Loose Alliance of Casual and/or Keen Bird Watchers of Central LA.

Marty Floyd was a contributor to the 2005 Louisiana Wildlife Action Plan and was recognized at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Coastal Stewardship Awards Banquet for his 25 years working with the coastal marshes!   Marty has thus unquestionably made a lasting and sustainable impact on wildlife and their coastal habitats, ensuring a positive legacy for future generations!

Along with these qualifications, his contributions to environmental education and community outreach firmly align him with this great award.

Working with the NWF, Rapides Wildlife Association, LWF and Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Marty has co-created a wonderful coloring book that has both the English and Native American Tunica-Biloxi names of many of Louisiana's wild creatures. Marty provided the original images for coloring. This book is available online and is used by individuals with their families and educators. It has been shared widely and is an exemplar of educational material that constitutes an important cross-cultural bridge! 

LMNA President Bette Kauffman speaks for us all in congratulating him on a very well-deserved award!
"Marty Floyd is a consummate conservationist. His lifetime of commitment and work to preserve the natural heritage of this state has left us all richer. We are delighted to celebrate with him LWF's 2023 Lifetime Achievement.award. Congratulations, Marty! We are proud of you."

When asked how he feels about it, Marty said "So honored to be chosen for this award. I don't plan on stopping in whatever way I can to promote wildlife and the habitat they depend upon. Thanks for all the support I have been given."

To which we respond, thank you, Marty, for your long years of excellent work in, about and for the environment in Louisiana and for being such a fine Master Naturalist exemplar!  Kudos to you, sir!