Gordon Batcheller, Chief Wildlife Biologist for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was honored with the Wildlife Management Institute's (WMI) 2015 George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Natural Resource Conservation. The award was conferred last month during the annual Conservation Administrators Luncheon at the 80th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.

The award, established in honor of the acknowledged "Father of American Conservation" - George Bird Grinnell - is WMI's highest honor for individual contribution to conservation in North America. Presenting the award was WMI President, Steve Williams, who noted that during Batcheller's thirty-four year tenure as a wildlife professional, "he has worked as a relentless engine for meaningful wildlife conservation.

"Perhaps more than any other," continued Williams, "Gordon has served as the 'biologist's voice' to state, national, and international policy makers on the conservation and wise use of wildlife resources."

During his career, spent exclusively at the New York DEC, Batcheller has served as the co-negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative's Office on European Union wild fur regulation, chair of the interagency work group on CITES implementation, chair of the technical work group for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' (AFWA) fur resources task force, secretary of the U.S. technical advisory group on humane trapping, member of the U.S. Team to the quadrilateral working group on fur, chair of the Northeast Wildlife Administrators Association, and chair of the AFWA sustainable use of wildlife committee.

Batcheller's influence on the international use and trade of wildlife resources over the past 20 years has been unprecedented. During an aggressive campaign launched by international anti-trapping and anti-hunting groups in the 1990's, Batcheller took a leadership role at the forefront of states' efforts to defend furbearer management. During that decade, he was consistently present on the international front when needed, and spearheaded numerous initiatives and policies that proved ultimately successful in the fight for the integrity of North American furbearer management and conservation.

"Frequently described by his colleagues as resolutely strong and steadfast in his efforts on behalf of wise stewardship of wildlife resources," said Williams, "Gordon reflects, in many ways, the nature and dedication of the award's namesake. His personal and professional stature underscores not only the prestige and values of the award itself, but also the principles that cement the bedrock of the wildlife management profession."