Defenders of Wildlife Honors Individuals for Lifetime Achievement, Public Service, Citizen Advocacy and Science

Below are press releases with information on:

• Dr. Edward O. Wilson's lifetime achievement award;
• Rep. George Miller's public service award;
• Deborah William's citizen advocacy award and
• Dr. Douglas Smith's science award.

Dr. Edward O. Wilson receives
Defenders of Wildlife Legacy Award

Wilson receives lifetime achievement award for distinguished career, commitment to saving endangered species

WASHINGTON – Dr. Edward O. Wilson will receive the first-ever Defenders of Wildlife Legacy Award on Thursday. Defenders of Wildlife, a national conservation organization, created this award to recognize an individual whose lifetime body of work has been consistently influential to wildlife conservation.

“Dr. Wilson and his decades of work embody what it means to be a defender of wildlife in so many ways,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. “His efforts to preserve endangered species and educate the American public, from members of Congress to college students, about the importance of conserving wildlife and its habitat to protect the planet’s biological diversity have assured him a place among the great conservationists in history. We are proud to honor Dr. Wilson for his achievements with our first Defenders of Wildlife Legacy Award.”

Defenders of Wildlife is honoring Wilson during its 60th anniversary celebration taking place in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 27.

Asked how he felt about receiving this award, Wilson responded “Since my appreciation for the natural world began in the forests and streams of Alabama, I've worked toward a greater understanding of the wealth of other species inhabiting this planet. By sharing some of that understanding with others, I hope that I have helped to nurture the same fascination with biodiversity that drives my own work, and that inspires the drive in all of us to safeguard our natural heritage.

“I am honored that Defenders of Wildlife has chosen to give me its Wildlife Legacy Award in recognition of my life's work. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels, or even pause. The next generation of biologists, naturalists and conservationists face tremendous challenges in their work to protect the Earth's biological wealth. I hope that this award inspires them to tackle those challenges, and ensure that our children and grandchildren can enjoy the same fascinating wildlife that has always inspired me.”

Wilson is Professor Emeritus and honorary curator in entomology at Harvard University. As a scientist, he has devoted much of his time to studying ants, evolutionary biology, sociobiology and philosophy. Wilson is called “the father of biodiversity” because of his life’s work, especially his 1992 book The Diversity of Life. In the book he noted that the 1.5 million species identified by science at that time represented only a fraction of what may exist. He warned that, left unchecked, human activity would lead to a widespread, devastating rash of extinctions that would turn the natural order upside-down.

Wilson has written 21 books, more than 370 scholarly articles and has won two Pulitzer prizes for his books On Human Nature and The Ants. He has also earned multiple degrees from the University of Alabama and Harvard University and has received numerous honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.

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Rep. George Miller receives
Spirit of Defenders Awardfor Public Service

Defenders of Wildlife honors Miller for advocacy and leadership in Congress on endangered species and wildlife issues

WASHINGTON - Rep. George Miller (D-Calif) will receive the first-ever Defenders of Wildlife Spirit of Defenders Award for Public Service on Thursday. Defenders of Wildlife, a national conservation organization, created this award to recognize elected officials who have shown outstanding leadership and tireless advocacy on behalf of America’s wildlife.

“George Miller is one of the truly dedicated members of Congress that the conservation community can turn to and know that we will be greeted with an open ear and an open mind,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. “Because Rep. Miller is one of the most effective and consistent champions of America’s wildlife and wild lands we are proud to honor him with our Spirit of Defenders Award for Public Service.”

Defenders of Wildlife is honoring Miller during its 60th anniversary celebration taking place in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 27.

Asked how he felt about receiving this award, Congressman Miller responded, “It is an honor to be recognized like this for just doing my job and staying true to my values. Conservation is something that I obviously take very seriously and it gives me great pride knowing that my work is making a noticeable difference in my home state and across the nation.”

 Miller has been serving the East Bay of San Francisco in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1975. In his 32 years in Congress, he has provided key leadership in protecting the integrity of the Endangered Species Act and advancing congressional actions to increase funding for federal lands conservation. Just this week he introduced legislation to ban the aerial hunting of wolves in Alaska.

“For decades, Rep. Miller has worked to ensure Congress fulfills its promises and follows through on its responsibility to put conservation ahead of politics. He has done an exemplary job so far and deserves our thanks for his long list of significant achievements,” said Schlickeisen.  

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Deborah L. Williams receives
Spirit of Defenders Award for Citizen Advocacy

Defenders of Wildlife honors Williams for dedication to Alaskan conservation, success in engaging the community

WASHINGTON - Deborah Williams will receive the first-ever Defenders of Wildlife Spirit of Defenders Award for Citizen Advocacy on Thursday. Defenders of Wildlife, a national conservation organization, created this award to recognize individuals whose outstanding efforts in educating and activating the public have resulted in significant wildlife conservation achievements in their community, state or nation.

“It takes a special kind of person to engage the public the way that Deborah Williams does,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. “Her dedication to the conservation of the abundant wildlife and treasured lands that make up her home state of Alaska is remarkable, and her ability to rally the public both on a state and national level is unmatched. We are proud to honor Ms. Williams’ achievements with our Spirit of Defenders Award for Citizen Advocacy.”   

Defenders of Wildlife is honoring Williams during its 60th anniversary celebration taking place in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 27.

Asked how she felt about receiving this award, Ms. Williams responded “I am deeply honored to receive this award and look forward to educating and involving many more people in protecting Alaska’s magnificent wildlife and lands. We take great pride in Alaska and work together to preserve its intact ecosystems and biodiversity against numerous serious threats, including global warming and habitat destruction.”

Williams is the founder and president of Alaska Conservation Solutions. She started this organization in 2005 to draw public attention to the special and significant impacts of global warming on wildlife and habitats in Alaska. She also uses her organization to mobilize citizens to address the issue on the state and national levels. She has been a fierce, long time advocate for protecting the Arctic and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), and for banning the aerial gunning of wolves in Alaska.

Williams’ conservation expertise has also led her in the past to work for the Alaska Conservation Foundation, the Department of the Interior as special assistant to the Secretary on Alaska issues, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska. She has published numerous law review and other articles and has been featured on 60 Minutes, the BBC and in the New York Times.

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Dr. Douglas Smith receives
Spirit of Defenders Award for Science

Defenders of Wildlife honors Smith for
leadership in restoring wolves to the Northern Rocky Mountains  

WASHINGTON - Dr. Douglas Smith will receive the first-ever Defenders of Wildlife Spirit of Defenders Award for Science on Thursday. Defenders of Wildlife, a national conservation organization, created this award to recognize an individual in the field of science whose work has been instrumental to wildlife conservation.  

“Dr. Smith has dedicated his career to the recovery of the wolf in Yellowstone. We are proud to have worked side-by-side with him over the years and appreciate his wisdom and leadership,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. “Thanks to Dr. Smith, we now have at least 136 wolves in 13 packs in Yellowstone. He has truly worked a miracle, and for that I can’t think of a better recipient of our Spirit of Defenders Award for Science.”

Defenders of Wildlife is honoring Smith during its 60th anniversary celebration taking place in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 27.

Asked how he felt about receiving this award, Smith responded “There is nothing more gratifying for scientists than to see their work put to use and successfully impact the world in a positive way. Receiving an award for being a part of this much larger wolf reintroduction effort is just icing on the cake, and I am very proud to be honored in this way. Of course, the wolves deserve most of the credit.”

Smith, an internationally known wolf expert, was instrumental in bringing wolves back to the Northern Rockies. He later devised innovative long-term monitoring and research procedures that enabled investigators to observe wolves more closely than was possible before. His work serves today as a model for the restoration, management and monitoring of large predators worldwide.

Smith has appeared in four National Geographic specials and one BBC special and has authored or coauthored numerous publications, including two books, The Wolves of Yellowstone and Decade of the Wolf. He received his B.S. from the University of Idaho, a M.S. from Michigan Technological University and a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Reno.

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.  With more than 900,000 members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come.  For more information, visit www.defenders.org.