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Congratulations to the 2009
SER Awards Recipients!
There is no finer moment at an SER conference than its tribute to individuals and organizations whose exemplary work leads the Restoration movement forward to higher levels of achievement and cultural prominence. The SER Board of Directors, the SER Awards Committee, led by chair Al Unwin (pictured below with award recipients), and the SER staff salute this year's recipients who were recognized at the SER World Conference on Ecological Restoration in Perth, Western Australia, in August:
Keith Bowers, 2009 John Rieger Award
By this award, the Society acknowledges its debt to those who have dedicated their time and skills to the advancement of ecological restoration and/or to the development of the Society. This award, originally called the Service Award, was renamed in 1997, to honor John Rieger who is one of the four founders of the Society and who served as its first President.
Keith Bowers recognized the need for ecological restoration more than 25 years ago, before it was even recognized as a field. As President and founder of Biohabitats, this internationally recognized landscape architect has planned, designed, and managed the construction of over 200 ecological restoration projects throughout the United States. Keith also teaches ecological restoration seminars and workshops and participates in numerous industry panels.
Keith Bowers joined the Board of Directors of SER International in San Francisco at the 11th annual conference in 1999. Keith’s business acumen was immediately put to effective use when he was named treasurer of the Society in 2001. From that point on, Keith’s focused direction and leadership became apparent, and he was named Vice Chair of the Society in 2002 and Chair of the Society a year later. Keith’s leadership during his time as Chair and Vice Chair brought new direction and focus for the Board and staff that has directly led to the health and stability that we experience today as an organization. In 2008, Keith agreed to serve as the Society’s first Global Restoration Ambassador, a role he continues to fulfill at present and one that has him working in various capacities to promote the Society and provide experienced leadership wherever required – most recently in the development of the Society’s Certification Program for ecological restoration practitioners.
Keith has also been a tremendous ambassador for the Society in the International policy arena, beginning in 2003 when he was part of a team of SER representatives travelling to Malaysia to participate in the Commission for Ecosystem Management of the IUCN. 2003 also saw Keith participate in the World Parks Congress in South Africa, where he continued to spread the word about ecological restoration and SER International. Along with George Gann, Keith participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Thailand in 2004 and more recently, the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona in 2008. Furthermore, he was just recently named restoration theme leader for the IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management.
In the history of the Society for Ecological Restoration International, there are few people who have been more passionate than Keith Bowers about spreading the word of the Society and its vision. Congratulations to the 2009 recipient of the John Rieger Award – Keith Bowers.
Previous recipients
2007 Bill Halvorson
2005 Don Eastman
2004 Kern Ewing and Warren Gold
2003 George Gann
2002 Andy Clewell
2000 Will Bond
2000 David T. Bell
1999 Dr. Edith Allen
1998 Dr. William Niering
1997 Dennis Martinez
1996 US Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program
1995 John Rieger
1994 William Jordan
Dr. Wally Covington, 2009 Theodore M. Sperry Award
The Theodore M. Sperry award honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to the science and/or practice of Ecological Restoration. Recipients must have demonstrated innovation and pioneering in the development of a new approach to restoration; research and development in regard to restoration methods and tools; the development of useful restoration criteria and standards; and/or the development of effective ways of integrating volunteers or involving the public in restoration programs.
More than any other single individual, Dr. W. Wallace Covington – Wally – has provided the combination of science and vision for restoration of ponderosa pine forests of North America, where he has worked for more than 30 years, both as a graduate student and then as a member of the faculty of Northern Arizona University. During this time, he has made an enormous contribution to the basic understanding of the structure and function of ponderosa pine forests, as reflected in a truly extraordinary lifetime record of publication in restoration ecology. Dr. Covington has also been the leading voice for ecological restoration in these dynamic ecosystems. He and his colleagues and students have pioneered basic approaches to restoring forest structure and keystone processes, particularly fire.
Wally also founded and directs, the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI), one of the leading university programs fostering a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to restoration science and practice. A generation of his students now occupies leadership positions in forest ecology, management, and restoration. Never one to remain sequestered in the ivory tower, Wally is also a key player in national and international forest policy, and an important voice in legislation promoting ecological restoration.
The Awards Committee can think of no more appropriate recipient of the 2009 Theodore M. Sperry Award than Wally Covington, and we extend our congratulations. (Unfortunately, Wally was unable to make the journey to Perth, so David Huffman – a colleague at the Ecological Restoration Institute – agreed to accept the award on his behalf.)
Previous recipients
2007 Edward Redente
2005 William Mitsch
2004 South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement
2003 Oliver Henry Knowles
2001 Miguel Soto Cruz
1998 Dr. Thomas Goreau and Wolf Hilbertz
1997 James A. Stevenson
1996 Professor Tony Bradshaw
1995 Dr. Joy Zedler
1994 Marc Matsil
Karen Rodriguez, 2009 Golden Trowel Award
One of the privileges of being the Chair of the Society is that, upon stepping down, you have the opportunity to recognize the contributions of a special person or persons who helped you to achieve your work. The SERI Golden Trowel Award is given in recognition of Special Service to the Chair during his or her tenure. While acknowledging that it is becoming increasingly difficult to choose a single individual for this award, it brought me great pleasure to surprise outgoing Secretary Karen Rodriguez with the Golden Trowel Award at our awards banquet in Perth.
Karen joined the SERI Board in 1998, during my first term as Chair, and we immediately developed a collegial and productive working relationship. Originally the Midwestern U.S. & Canadian Regional Representative, Karen helped not only to spread the word about restoration within her region, but also to promote education and training initiatives. Within Board meetings, she could always be counted on to provide thoughtful and productive contributions. Over the last five years, Karen served the Society as Secretary, a position without much limelight, but one critical to SERI’s health and development. Early on as Secretary, she worked with me to record the myriad changes to the Society’s bylaws during a period of major governance reforms. During my time as Chair, she developed a defensible and consistent process whereby the SERI Board could make decisions for the Society between meetings. Finally, Karen was always there for me to provide guidance and support when I needed it, regardless of how chaotic the period. Thank You Karen!
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