Conservation group recognizes FWC regional director for outstanding leadership

6/28/2012

Conservation group recognizes FWC regional director for outstanding leadership



Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Regional Director Dennis
David on Wednesday received a high honor at the Commission meeting in Palm Beach
Gardens. The Florida Sportsmen's Conservation Association recognized David with the
Wildlife Resource Management Achievement Award.

This award recognizes a conservationist who has exemplified the highest principles
of good public relations and strong leadership to achieve a significant impact for
conservation.

The Florida Sportsmen's Conservation Association chose David for the award primarily
because of his work on the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and
Conservation Area<http://www.fws.gov/southeast/evergladesheadwaters/>, a new
national wildlife refuge in central Florida. David's leadership helped ensure that
public access, including hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing, are provided as
requested by stakeholder groups.

"David's involvement was critical in turning a negative situation into a positive
outcome," said Todd Hallman, Florida Sportsmen's Conservation Association board
member. "He worked tirelessly with stakeholders, making sure everyone involved was
fully informed of the process."

David's leadership helped formulate an unprecedented agreement between the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and the FWC. This formal agreement allows the FWC to pass rules
and manage public hunting access on the planned purchase of 50,000 acres of public
lands brought into the federal refuge.

"More than once, David's leadership skills were put to the test," said Hallman. "He
excelled at keeping all parties seated at the same table and united toward a common
goal."

"It is an honor to work with the sportsmen to play a positive role in establishing
the only new national wildlife refuge in Florida added during my 38-year career with
the FWC," David said.

The new refuge will have "tremendous" conservation benefits for the diverse fish and
wildlife resources in this part of the state, he added, as well as provide sportsmen
with considerable new hunting opportunities.

"It was because of the commitment and perseverance of the sportsmen's groups that we
gained the widespread support of the hunting and conservation community and private
ranches in the area necessary to make this refuge a reality," David said. "We built
bridges and forged new partnerships, and everyone came away with a broader
understanding of the gains that come from working together. We'll continue to invite
additional conservation groups to partner in this effort."

David was born in Coral Gables and grew up in the Miami area. He earned a bachelor's
degree in zoology from the University of South Florida in 1974 and immediately
started a career with Florida's then-Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (now the
FWC). David served as a biologist, focusing most of his career on alligator biology.
In 2001, he became the regional director for the FWC's Northeast Region. As such,
David represents the executive director's office, addressing legislative issues and
serving as a liaison with other government agencies, conservation and sportsmen's
groups and the public.

David is set to retire from the FWC this year but will likely remain involved with
the project, as he is passionate about conservation.

The Florida Sportsmen's Conservation Association was founded in June 1994 by a group
of sportsmen who shared a vision for creating a conservation organization that would
serve the needs of modern outdoorsmen and their families.