Ken Strom, Director of Bird Conservation & Public Policy, Audubon Colorado

For more than 25 years Ken Strom has sought to educate and involve people in his region working primarily in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. For most of those years, he worked for the National Audubon Society. From 1983-1994, he successfully fought to protect the habitat of the Central Platte River so that millions of sandhill cranes would continue to have the same feeding grounds their ancestors had over 10 million years ago. From 1994-1999, Ken served as an instructor and director of Audubon's Ecology Camp in the Rockies, educating teachers, instructors and citizens. Through unique partnerships he established in Russia and Pakistan - countries without a history of wildlife conservation - thousands of people are being educated today through new "sister centers" there. In Colorado, he has helped to establish and monitor 53 Important Bird Areas (IBA). Given the state of wetlands in Colorado, this accomplishment stands out. Finally, Ken directed Audubon's highly visible nationwide population and habitat program that engaged hundreds of leaders and 20,000 activists working on education and public advocacy during the past decade. Millions of Americans learned about the connections between human population growth and the environment as a result of this important initiative.

An excellent writer, Ken has produced numerous publications for many national organizations, and repeatedly served as a spokesperson on PBS and other television documentaries. Today, school children have access to materials written by Ken or under this supervision. Farmers and businessman work with Ken on IBAs and other wildlife and wetland issues. Finally, policy makers use his expertise in drafting legislation or testifying.

Please join me in recognizing Ken Strom for his life-long dedication to increasing the public's interest and love for the nature world.