Washington, DC, February 17, 2004 – The National Wildlife Refuge Association is pleased to announce the recipients of this year's National Wildlife Refuge System Awards. Proudly sponsored by the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the annual Refuge System Awards recognize the exceptional contributions that certain dedicated individuals and groups make toward protecting the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS).

The following awards will be presented at the NWRA's Advocacy and Media Training Bootcamp, March 6 - 7, 2004 in Washington, DC:

The following awards will be presented at the 69th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference on March 16 - 20, 2004 at the Doubletree Hotel and Spokane City Center in Spokane, WA:

Refuge Volunteers and Refuge Friends groups serve as a crucial work force and as advocates for local refuges and for the Refuge System as a whole. 2004 Volunteers of the Year Ken and Darlene Fiske have contributed thousands of hours to conservation efforts over the past 20 years, working to preserve and restore habitat for waterbirds and migratory species in Hawaii and in Florida. The Fiskes recognized that Florida's "Ding" Darling NWR and Hawaii's Maui NWRC were battling the same woody invasives (Brazilian pepper, melaleuca and Australian pine) and coordinated and monitored efforts to improve targeted control of these plants.

This year's Friends Group of the Year award honors the Chincoteague Natural History Association (CNHA), in recognition of the impressive accomplishments the group has amassed in support of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR. CNHA members have donated thousands of hours and helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide high quality interpretive and educational opportunities for refuge visitors as well as biological programs to protect and enhance wildlife habitat.

The Refuge System Employee of the Year and Paul Kroegel - Refuge Manager of the Year Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated a career of dedicated commitment to the cause of wildlife conservation. John Taylor, 2004 Refuge Employee of the Year, is wildlife biologist for the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, NM. He has researched, pioneered and implemented innovative techniques for conserving river water during severe drought while converting salt cedar monocultures back to native vegetation. He works extensively and effectively with other refuges, with conservation organizations, land management agencies and universities throughout the southwest and in Mexico.

Mike Bryant, manager of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, NC, is the recipient of the 2004 Paul Kroegel Refuge Manager of the Year award. Mike is widely respected for his dedication and depth of knowledge as a key natural resources manager in eastern North Carolina. He represents Refuge System interests in a variety of challenging and controversial issues, such as ensuring that fragile refuge habitat is protected against harmful impacts of constructing a replacement bridge across Pea Island NWR to accommodate hurricane evacuation as well as routine travel for Hatteras Island.

To learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge System Awards and the incredible work being performed throughout the country, please visit our website - www.refugenet.org - and click the "Events" link.

Established in 1975, the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to protect, enhance and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System, lands and waters set aside by the American people to conserve our diverse wildlife heritage.