July 28, 2004 

#230

1) Governor Conservation Awards Winners Announced
2) Urban Forestry Featured in Birmingham Magazine
3) Alabama Natural Heritage Program 2004 Tracking Program
4) BEN Notes: Americans Saving American Places Summit, Green Party Presidential Candidate Visit, Wolf Bay Watershed Public Meetings, The Real "Spidermen" -Spider Book Released in Alabama, State Wild Game Cook-Off Finals

1. Governor Conservation Awards Winners Announced - The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) announced this week the 2004 Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards winners, one of the most prestigious conservation awards in the state of Alabama. Some of the winners include:

Conservationist of the Year - Cam Lanier III
Wildlife Conservationist of the Year - Dr. Ralph Mirarchi
Forest Conservationist of the Year - Alabama Forest Resources Center
Conservation Organization of the Year - Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation
Legislative Conservationist of the Year - Rep. John Robinson

The winners will be honored at a formal banquet sponsored by Alabama Power at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery on Friday July 30th.  A limited number of tickets are available for $35.  Contact AWF at 1-800-822-9453 for additional info or go to http://www.alawild.org to view descriptions on all the winners.

2. Urban Forestry Featured in Birmingham Magazine - Check out your local newsstands for Birmingham Magazine's July 2004 edition.  Inside this month's magazine is a 9 page beautifully written and photographed series of stories featuring the Alabama Urban Forestry Association and Ruffner Mountain.  The article is called 'the Forest and the Trees," and it is written by longtime conservationist Lisa Harris.  The photography is done by Beau Gustavson. 

To learn more about Birmingham Magazine go to http://www.bhammag.com

3. Alabama Natural Heritage Program 2004 Tracking Program - The state of Alabama is one of the most biologically diverse states in the country.  One of the top scientific organizations tracking the status of Alabama's rare, endangered and threatened animals and plants is the Alabama Natural Heritage Program (ALNHP), which is based in Montgomery.

Recently, ALNHP released its 2004 tracking list which reflects  taxonomic changes and the most recent data regarding distribution of species and current protection status within the ALNHP Biological Conservation Database.  To download these new lists and reports go to http://www.alnhp.org

4. BEN Notes: Americans Saving American Places Summit, Green Party Presidential Candidate Visit, Wolf Bay Watershed Public Meetings, The Real "Spidermen" -Spider Book Released in Alabama, State Wild Game Cook-Off Finals

Americans Saving American Places Summit - The Americans Saving American Places Summit will be held on Thursday and Friday, July 29-30 at the Radisson Hotel in Birmingham.  Registration is $50.  For information on the agenda, go to http://www.BamaNews.com/summit.html  If you would like to attend please call Pat Byington at 205-999-4390 or email pkbyington@aol.com

Green Party Presidential Candidate Visit - Green Party Presidential Candidate David Cobb is scheduled for three appearances in Alabama on Thursday, July 29th.  Scheduled campaign stops include:

Homewood Public Library in Homewood, Alabama - Noon to 1:00 - Contact number 205-332-6600
Unitarian Universalists Fellowship of Montgomery (2810 Atlanta Hwy, 334-279-9517) - 3:00 to 4:00pm
Satori Coffee House in Mobile (5460 Old Shell Rd., 251-344-4575) 7:00-9:00pm

The Green Party is seeking 5000 signatures to have David Cobb included on the Alabama presidential ballot and more than 20,000 signatures to be listed with the Green Party affiliation.  For more information about the events or the Green Party in Alabama, contact Matthew Hellinger, matthew@alabamagreenparty.org

Wolf Bay Watershed Public Meetings - The Wolf Bay Watershed Project is coming to an end and they need your approval of the plan.  The group has scheduled two public meetings on Thursday, July 29th at 6:00pm at the Foley City Council and on July 31st at the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch Picnic and Award Ceremony.  Please call the Alabama Coastal Foundation at 251-990-6002 for additional info.

The Real "Spidermen": Spiders Book Released in Alabama - Samford University professors Mike Howell and Ronald Jenkins have completed a new book on spiders called "Spiders of the Eastern United States - A Photographic Guide."  According to spider experts - "the book is better than the movie Spiderman 2."  You be the judge.  To order the book go to http://www.pearsoned.com

State Wild Game Cook-Off Finals - Come sample some of Alabama's best wild game at AWF's State Wild Game Cook-Off Competition.  Ample servings of superb game dishes will be on hand such as venison, duck, dove, pheasant and more!  A limited number of tickets are available for $25 and proceeds will benefit AWF's programs and projects. Call 1-800-822-9453 for ticket information.

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