FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 20, 2016
GOVERNOR, CABINET HONOR NATURAL RESOURCE
MANAGERS OF THE YEAR
~Award recognizes state land managers’ commitment to Florida’s
environment~
 (L to R) Adam Putnam, Florida commissioner of agriculture; Pam Bondi, attorney general of Florida; Gov. Rick Scott; Alexandra Lehner-Morin, recipient's wife; Keith Morin, 2016 Resource Manager of the Year award recipient; Donald Forgione, director of the Florida Park Service; Parks Small, chief of the Florida Park Service's Bureau of Natural and Cultural Resources;
Jeff Atwater, chief financial officer of Florida.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott and the
Florida Cabinet honored Keith Morin, environmental specialist at three Florida
state parks, as Resource Manager of the Year for his commitment to habitat restoration and stewardship of state lands.
“I’m proud to recognize Keith Morin as one of Florida’s top
resource managers,” said Donald Forgione, director of the Florida Park Service.
“He has demonstrated tremendous dedication to restoring and protecting more
than 27,000 acres at three of Florida's incredible state parks.”
This prestigious environmental honor is bestowed annually to a
natural resource manager from DEP, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Service’s Florida Forest Service, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission. The other award recipients were David Smith, operations administrator, Blackwater Forestry Center, Florida Forest Service;
and Tina Hannon, lead area biologist, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area,
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Recipients are selected by a
committee of environmental professionals representing the Sierra Club, Florida
Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy.
“Managing our natural resources is vital to protecting and
conserving Florida for future generations,” said Zach Prusak with the Nature
Conservancy, and who serves as chairman of the selection committee. “The award winners from
the three agencies embody the outstanding efforts of every state employee who
works extremely hard to preserve our natural resources. I am honored to be
involved in selecting these recipients.”
Keith Morin has served as the environmental specialist at Crystal
River Preserve, Crystal River Archaeological and Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins
Historic state parks since 2005. His work includes protecting cultural
resources and helping to establish a fire program on the preserve. He has treated more than 3,400 acres of
exotic plants and worked with other agencies and the community to host 20
events that resulted in the removal of more than 144,000 Brazilian pepper
trees. Additionally, he worked with the Florida Forest Service to restore 450
acres of coastal pine flatwoods by thinning slash pine and hosting 16 events
with AmeriCorps members and volunteers to plant more than 75,000 longleaf
pines.
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