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Paul Tritaik When Paul Tritaik became refuge manager of Pelican Island and Archie Carr NWRs in Florida ten years ago, the refuges were satellites of Merritt Island NWR and had been unstaffed for several years. Over the past decade, Paul has worked to restore and protect the habitat from erosion and invasive species and increase public use and awareness of the refuges, which now have project status and a staff of six. He helped establish the Pelican Island Preservation Society and the Friends of the Carr Refuge and has developed several local partnerships, including the Pelican Island Working Group partnership, combining community and government organizations. He has worked effectively to protect the refuges from the ongoing pressures of residential development. He also helped coordinate the complicated arrangements involved in the much anticipated and highly publicized 2003 Refuge Centennial Celebration events at Pelican Island. |