The Wildlife Professional - Spring 2010 2009

sin where she majored in molecular biology and minored in women’s studies. Post-graduation, Jadin headed to Colorado to study water resource use in bats. Jadin completed her doctoral dissertation on evolution and sexual selection in Hawaiian crickets at the University of Maryland, where she also studied public policy and volunteered with several organizations involved in science and conservation. She’s now helping TWS expand its influence on wildlife policy issues.

one of our own in Copenhagen

As a past president of TWS with a long-time interest in climate
change and its impacts on wildlife, Dan Svedarsky served as
an observer for TWS at the U.N. Climate Change Conference
in Copenhagen in December 2009. Calling it “an incredible
experience,” Svedarsky says the conference emphasized how
wildlifers must have an
international perspec-
tive. “If we buy cashmere
sweaters,” he says, “we
can impact overgrazing
in Mongolia.” During the
conference Svedarsky
had the honor of meeting
Kenyan environmental
activist Wangari Maathai,
founder of the Green Belt
Movement and winner of
the Nobel Peace Prize in
2004 for her contribution
to sustainable develop-
ment. “She’s an inspiring
lady,” says Svedarsky,
and a force for “planetary
stewardship.”

credit: Vicki Svedarsky

dan Svedarsky meets Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai in copenhagen after a screening of the film “Taking Root” about Maathai’s life.

A Generous donation

The Wildlife Society has garnered more than $7,000 thanks to the generosity of TWS Fellow and long-time member Fred Lindzey. A Commissioner of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Lindzey gave TWS a Wyoming Commissioner License—a complimentary hunting license for the owner’s choice of elk, antelope, or deer. The Wild Sheep Foundation (in exchange for 10 percent of the proceeds) auctioned off the license at its Wild Sheep Show held in February in Reno, Nevada. Wyoming’s Kevin Hurley opened the bidding at $5,000 and George Lawrence III from Spokane, Washington, offered the highest bid—$7,750—and won the license. Lindzey is pleased with the outcome. “I hope this support allows TWS to do something they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise,” he says.

Birth of a new Coalition

In late 2009 TWS officially joined forces with the American Fisheries Society, the Society of American Foresters, and the Society for Range Management to form the Coalition of Natural Resource Societies (CNRS).

This new coalition will allow our four groups to share information about professional society management and, more important, to collaborate on natural resource policy concerns. Early this year, for example, the group reached out to the governors of all 50 states to educate them about the value of the work done by natural resource professionals and the need to have strong cadres of such professionals in each state, even in tough economic times. With a combined membership of over 35,000 professionals, CNRS will be a formidable force on Capitol Hill, working to educate Congress about the need for sound natural resource management.

A tragic loss for Us All

On February 20, 2010, wildlifers lost a visionary leader when Sam Hamilton, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), passed away after suffering chest pains during a ski trip in Colorado, where he had just attended a regional leadership meeting for the Service. He was 54.

A career FWS employee, Hamilton got an early start in natural resources management. At just 15 years of age, he volunteered with the Youth Conservation Corps at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi, his home state. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology at Mississippi State University, Hamilton continued his work with FWS, holding several positions including Assistant Regional Director of Ecological Services in Atlanta, Texas State Administrator in Austin, and Regional Director of the Southeast Region. Hamilton assumed the top job at FWS when he was sworn in as director in September 2009. During more than 30 years with the Service, Hamilton helped establish a carbon sequestration program in the Southeast Region, oversaw Service-related cleanup and recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and helped guide restoration of tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, notably in the Everglades. Hamilton was also a great supporter of The Wildlife Society. Says TWS President Bruce Leopold, “We have indeed lost a most talented wildlife biologist, and for many of us, a very good friend.”