Heidi Adams, PhD, the Associate Professor of Wildlife Habitat Management at Louisiana Tech University, has been selected as Conservationist of the Year 2024. She joins six other recipients selected to be recognized by Louisiana Wildlife Federation in their 59th Conservation Achievement Awards program.
Dr. Adams’ work in 2024 focused on introducing more young women to the possibilities of working in forestry and wildlife management through her Women in the Woods project, Louisiana Tech’s STEMinist event, and working with high school students from around the state, while also teaching seven to eight undergraduate and graduate classes throughout the year.
“Dr. Adams passion for showing young people, girls especially, that we need them in forestry and wildlife management careers is infectious,” said LWF Executive Director Rebecca Triche. “Her ability to connect with students inside and outside of the classroom is helping to create a new group of conservation crusaders for Louisiana.”
The Conservationist of the Year Award is presented annually to the person, business or organization deemed to have made the most outstanding contribution toward the protection, wise use, and enjoyment of Louisiana’s natural resources from among nominees submitted by the public. Conservationist of the Year is the most prestigious conservation award in Louisiana.
LWF is also pleased to announce its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Mark Shirley. Mark is a resident of Abbeville and a long-time coastal specialist with the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant.
“His enthusiasm for youth education, his commitment to land management and conservation, and his decades of service to support Louisiana resource management are rare in one individual,” Triche said.
Mark Shirley’s signature program Marsh Maneuvers has been teaching high students the importance of Louisiana’s wetlands, fisheries, and resource management since 1989. To date the program has touched the lives of more than 3,000 students from across the state.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation, jointly with National Wildlife Federation, will present the seven Conservation Achievement Awards recipients at its 59th Awards Banquet to be held on April 25, 2025 at Boudreaux’s in Baton Rouge.
The selection for this year’s Conservation Achievement Award recipients was made by a panel of independent judges with expertise in a wide range of conservation fields. The other five 2024 Conservation Achievement Awards recipients include:
Conservation Professional of the Year – Jason Adriance, New Orleans
- Jason Adriance is the Finfish Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. His expertise and scientific analysis have been instrumental in decisions made for altering size and bag limits for Redfish and Speckled Trout to ensure the health of those fish species in Louisiana waters. His analysis has been used to lengthen the Red Snapper season in Louisiana, to protect Southern Flounder stocks, and regulate the commercial Menhaden fishery.
Conservation Volunteer of the Year – Charles Williams, Baton Rouge
- Charles Williams volunteers with LWF and several other organizations in the state. He’s been instrumental in spearheading LWF’s Lights Out Louisiana campaign to help prevent migratory birds from colliding with buildings. He has been a leader for issues related to Catahoula Lake, diversity in reforestation, and migratory bird populations.
Conservation Educator of the Year – James Foret, St. Martinville
- James Foret is a notable conservationist who has touched countless lives as a professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His efforts to connect people with nature by sharing his knowledge, passion, and caring leadership has made an indelible mark on Acadiana.
Conservation Organization of the Year – Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning (BPSTIL), Bossier City
- BPSTIL provides middle and high school students in Bossier Parish with technical education and service opportunities that span multiple disciplines. In 2024, the students of BPSTIL made it their mission to help improve the Red River National Wildlife Refuge. Across all disciplines, the students used their unique talents and interests to make a meaningful impact on the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.
Conservation Youth Organization of the Year – Natchitoches Parish 4-H, Natchitoches
- 2024 was a big year for Natchitoches Parish 4-H as they kicked off their successful Natchitoches Parish 4-H Celebrates Conservation program. The program directly reached 500 students and indirectly nearly 2,500 students throughout the parish. The program taught environmental stewardship, helping to foster a generation that values conservation and responsible recreation.
The public is invited to the 59th Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet to be held on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Boudreaux’s in Baton Rouge. The banquet will begin at 6:00 pm with a cocktail reception followed by dinner and the awards presentation at 7:00 pm.
For more details and to purchase tickets click HERE.
LWF would like to thank the 59th Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet sponsors including Drax, Allyn & Cliff Dukes, Delacroix Corporation, Friends of Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge, Mike & MC Stewart, Rapides Wildlife Association, and Robert & Norma Stewart.