The Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) announced today the winners of its 2008 Conservation Achievement Awards. An awards ceremony to honor the recipients will take place at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, TN on March 19.

"One of the most important parts of conserving our wildlife and natural resources are individuals and organizations who step up to the plate and take action," said Mike Butler, Executive Director of TWF. "These awards recognize those individuals and organizations that have made truly meaningful contributions to conservation in Tennessee and to TWF. They are hard working and deserving recipients, and we are proud to honor them."

The 2008 winners are:

• -- Mr. Albert Buckley, Jr., Franklin, TN - Louis John "Lou" Williams Award (for years of service to TWF);
  
• -- Commissioner Jim Fyke, Nashville, TN - Conservationist of the Year;
  
• -- Ms. Linda Good, Johnson City, TN - Conservation Communicator of the Year;
  
• -- Dr. Craig Harper - Knoxville, TN - Wildlife Conservationist of the Year;
  
• -- Representative Mike McDonald, Portland, TN - Conservation Legislator of the Year;
  
• Ricky Moss, Athens, AL - Hunter Education Instructor of the Year;
  
• Ms. Terri Quillen, Columbia, TN - Conservation Educator of the Year;
  
• Mr. Lance Rider, McKenzie, TN - President's Award;
  
• Mr. Larry Ross, Bolivar, TN - President's Award;
  
• Mrs. Jeanette Rudy, Nashville, TN - Z. Cartter Patten Award (for lifetime achievement in conservation);
  
• Mr. Charles Saylor, Clinton, TN - Water Conservationist of the Year;
  
• Mr. David Sims, Nashville, TN - Ged Petit Memorial Award (for outstanding accomplishments for a TWRA officer);
  
• Bridgestone Firestone, Nashville, TN - Industrial Conservationists of the Year;
  
• Conservation Forestry, LLC, Exeter, NH - Forest Conservationist of the Year;
  
• Cumberland Region Tomorrow, Nashville, TN - Conservation Organization of the Year;
  
• Lightening 100's "Team Green," Nashville, TN - President's Award;
  
• Wolf River Conservancy, Memphis, TN - Land Conservationist of the Year.

The Conservation Achievement Awards have been given annually by the TWF since 1965. Nominations for the awards are taken from across the state. A selection committee then reviews all nominations and decides on the winners. The selection committee is comprised of TWF members, members of the board, conservation professionals from across Tennessee and media representatives.

The awards reception is sponsored by Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, J.M. Huber Corporation, Packaging Corporation of America and GM Springhill Manufacturing.

The awards ceremony and reception will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville at 5:00 p.m. The event is open to all TWF members who RSVP. For more information go to www.tnwf.org , or to RSVP, please contact Lori Rohling at TWF at (615) 353-1133.

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is a not for profit organization established in 1946 whose mission is to champion the conservation, sound management and enjoyment of Tennessee's wildlife and natural resources for current and future generations through stewardship, advocacy and education.