RESTON, Va. — The National Wildlife Federation is honoring the New Mexico Wildlife Federation with two of its most prestigious annual awards. Executive Director Jesse Deubel was awarded ‘Conservationist of the Year’ for his skillful leadership, while the New Mexico Wildlife Federation was named ‘Affiliate of the Year.’ 

“Between successfully defending water access in the New Mexico Supreme Court and spearheading the Nature Niños program for underserved families, New Mexico Wildlife Federation under Jesse’s leadership has emerged as a conservation powerhouse nationally,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Jesse and his team have repeatedly demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness in their efforts to protect New Mexico’s wildlife, waters and wild places.”

“It’s a huge honor to be recognized twice-over,” Deubel said. “Spending time outdoors on public land while hunting, fishing, backpacking or otherwise enjoying nature has been a significant part of my life since I was young, so I can confidently say that advocating for public lands, wildlife, and equitable access to the outdoors is my life’s work and passion.”

The New Mexico Wildlife Federation was founded by pioneering conservationist Aldo Leopold in 1914 and has worked to protect the state’s wildlife, habitat and public lands ever since. Here are just a few of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation’s accomplishments under Deubel’s leadership: 

• Adding new public lands: NMWF championed efforts to add nearly 10,000 acres to the Sabinoso Wilderness Area and 55,000 acres to the Marquez State Wildlife Management Area, making the Marquez the largest wildlife management area in the state.   
• Connecting children with nature: The Nature Ninos program provided free and low-cost summer camp, day programs, and family hikes for more than 1000 underserved children last year.
  
• Advocating for local hunters: The recent “Take Back Your Elk” report used New Mexico Department of Game and Fish data to show that nonresidents end up with more than a third of the state’s elk hunting licenses. The organization also worked with the department to create Spanish-language hunting and fishing informational materials.   
• Protecting New Mexico’s waters: The NMWF and partner organizations won an important victory in the New Mexico Supreme Court on stream access. In response to the groups’ legal challenge, the court ruled that a state game commission regulation that purported to allow certification of rivers and streams as private waters was unconstitutional. The court held that the public has the right to recreate in waters of the state even where they cross private lands. NMWF also helped to improve and permanently protect 5,000 acres of wetlands in the Middle Rio Grande Valley.

The National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Awards began in 1966. Since then, the National Wildlife Federation has celebrated individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting wildlife through education, advocacy, communication and on-the-ground conservation. Previous honorees have included former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Michelle Obama and other national leaders, including U.S. Sen. John McCain and filmmaker Robert Redford.