Plymouth Mayor Earns Wildlife Federation Honor

Brian Roth, mayor of Plymouth, was honored as the NCWF’s Municipal Conservationist of the Year. He is helping lead his region’s fight against the U.S. Navy’s plan to build an Outlying Landing Field in Washington and Beaufort counties. He is a former Navy flight officer.

RALEIGH — Brian Roth, former Navy flight officer and current mayor of Plymouth and one of the leaders of the fight to keep the Navy’s Outlying Landing Field out of his community, was honored as the Municipal Conservationist of the Year by the N.C. Wildlife Federation at its banquet Feb. 10 at the North Raleigh Hilton.

“We are gripped in a battle with the U.S. Navy, opposing its destructive plan to build an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) on the Albemarle Peninsula,” Roth said. “Many believe this will be the most important environmental and land-rights decision made in 2007.”

Fifteen Beaufort and Washington counties’ residents accompanied Roth to Raleigh to help present a one-hour program to the NCWF about the NO-OLF group’s battle with the U.S. Navy.

The NCWF presented 22 Conservation Awards to individuals and conservation groups. The awards included:

* Sportsman of the Year: Ray Rider of Lincolnton, a Minnesota native who is a 15-year member of the Lincoln Sportsman Club;

* N.C. Conservationist of the year: Katherine Skinner of Durham, a key figure in Nature Conservancy acquisitions of land for the public;

* Wildlife Conservationist of the Year: Alvin Braswell of Raleigh works with the N.C. Museum of Natural History to promote wildlife appreciation and conservation;

* Land Conservationist of the Year: Candace Williams of Fayetteville, who also has worked to preserve wild land from rampant development;

* Forest Conservationist of the Year: Marshall Hartsfield of Stella, a U.S. Forest Service forester who has helped many landowners manage their timber lands;

* Water Conservationist of the Year: William F. “Bill” Hunt or Raleigh, an N.C. State graduate who has a M.A. degree in biological and agricultural engineering;

* Youth Conservationist of the Year: Katherine Alyse McCraw of Horseshoe who, through the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program, is helping bring back bobwhite quail in her area;

* Environmental Educator of the Year: Patrick Curley of Stella, who encourages youths to protecting the environment;

* Legislator of the Year: Daniel Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg), who proposed in 2005 the Improve Environmental Enforcement Act in the Senate that increases penalties for violating laws that protect the environment;

* Conservation Organization of the Year: The Neuse River Foundation of Raleigh, which provides riverkeepers that monitor state streams and report biological problems and their causes in those waters;

*NCWF Affiliate of the Year: Catawba Valley Wildlife Club and Carteret County Wildlife Club of Havelock shared the honor. Both support sportsmen and sportswomen, along with organizations such as the Scouts, public schools, 4-H, churches and similar organizations in teaching ethical outdoors conduct. The Carteret club also has helped the National Forest Service manage and maintain public access at massive Croatan National Forest;

* Business Conservationist of the Year: Bryan Properties of Chapel Hill has cooperated with the Triangle Land Conservancy to make land deals that create open spaces, parks and schools near Treyburn in Durham County;

* Wildlife Volunteer of the Year: Carol Buie-Jackson of Matthews helps others enjoy outdoors experiences and brings awareness of protecting wildlife habitat;

* Hunter Safety Educator of the Year: Mickey Strader of Greensboro, an avid member of the N.C. Bowhunters, has taught hunter safety to many Triad groups for years;

* Wildlife Enforcement Officer of the Year: Ryan H. Taylor of Newport;

* Marine Patrol Officer of the Year: Lee Cornelius of Wilmington;

* Natural Resources Scientist of the Year: Micheal Street of Morehead City worked for the Division of Marine Fisheries for many years and created its Habitat Protection Program in 1999 and was instrumental in creating the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan;

* Natural Resources Agency of the Year: N.C. Ecoysystem Enhancement Program of Raleigh helps restore damage to the environment caused by economic development. It partners with DEHNR, NCDOT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;

* N.C. Conservation Hall of Fame: The family of the late John Pechmann, a Fayetteville lawyer and former chairman of the N.C. Wildlife Commission, accepted the honor for his work in land acquisitions for the WRC’s game lands programs and creation of the new WRC headquarters building at N.C. State’s Centennial Campus.

Richard Mode of Morganton was honored at a pre-dinner reception for earning the national Budweiser Conservationist of the Year award.