2013 CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR:

The Society for Ecological Restoration Northwest Chapter has awarded its 2013 Conservationist of the Year Award to Anne Shaffer, Executive Director of the Coastal Watershed Institute (CWI), “in recognition of over 20 years of efforts to preserve, protect, restore or enhance environments necessary for healthy ecosystems.” CWI is a non-profit working since 1997 to promote long term, ecological, and community based stewardship of marine and terrestrial ecosystems through scientific research and local partnerships. Over the last sixteen years CWI has supported applied research of nearshore habitats of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, partnered with the City of Port Angeles and Peninsula College on public education, and partnered with the Olympic national Park and Olympic Peninsula Tribes cataloging historic use and contemporary priorites for nearshore cultural natural resources. Anne’s work in ecological restoration has spanned greater than 20 years, and has shown an unwavering commitment to her field and the Region’s restoration efforts, particularly in the field of nearshore restoration. She coordinates large and complex restoration and science initiatives, including the Twins Nearshore Restoration, the Elwha Nearshore Management Plan, and the Elwha Nearshore Consortium.

SERNW has presented its annual Special Award, this year in honor of its 20th Anniversary, to the University of Washington Restoration Ecology Network. The capstone project program, founded in 1999, works through a network of community partners and faculty to provide hands-on restoration experience to students participating. Over the past 13 years, over 475 students representing 31 academic majors have accomplished 75 capstone restoration projects in cooperation with 37 unique community partners ranging from local and regional governments, to non-profits, public utilities, schools and private landowners.  The UW- REN program was originally spawned by SERNW members Warren Gold and Kern Ewing, who received the award for the Program.

The Awards were presented at SERNW’s 20th Anniversary Celebration held March 1 in Seattle at the Mountaineers Program center, with over 150 people in attendance, including many of its founding members.