National Public Lands Day Congressional Record Statement by U.S. Senator Harry Reid. (PDF)

The name of UNLV’s Public Lands Institute (PLI) is now listed among the most successful conservation partnerships in the nation. The White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, which was held in St. Louis, Missouri, August 29-31, 2005, highlighted the best examples of cooperative conservation throughout the United States.

“The Inclusive Approach to Stewardship” featuring the Southern Nevada Lands Partnership was honored as a model program for its multi-agency approach to the conservation and enjoyment of public lands in southern Nevada. The partnership includes the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, the Outside Las Vegas Foundation, and the Public Lands Institute.

PLI Executive Director Dr. Peg Rees and Director Nancy Flagg received the certificate on behalf of the Institute. “This honor recognizes the importance of conservation in southern Nevada and the organizations who are dedicated to it,” said Dr. Rees. “Even though we’ve only been in existence for a little more than a year, our partnership is strong and its impact upon cooperative conservation continues to grow.”

PLI Director Nancy Flagg at PLI booth

PLI also was invited to exhibit at the conference. Approximately 100 exhibitors from throughout the U.S. showcased products, services, and projects that positively impact environmental conservation.

This was the first time in 40 years – and only the fourth time in U.S. history – that the White House has hosted an environmental conference. The purpose was to promote and encourage cooperative conservation among federal agencies, states, local governments, tribes, and individuals. Conference speakers included Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, and Environmental Protection Agency Director Stephen L. Johnson.

Nevadans Urged to 'Get Outdoors' for National Public Lands Day Events

"Nevadans Urged to 'Get Outdoors' for National Public Lands Day Events," by Gian Galassi, UNLV News Bureau.

UNLV Public Lands Institute Names New Staff Member

LAS VEGAS-The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Lands Institute, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service, has named LaNelda Rolley to oversee outreach and marketing for the Institute’s projects.

Rolley brings to the Public Lands Institute over fifteen years of experience in public relations, marketing and management in the travel and tourism industry and the public sector. She previously served as the Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Tourism. In those capacities, Rolley took the lead in working with the industry to market the state and its attractions to prospective visitors. "The Institute has had a positive impact on Southern Nevada in a relatively short period of time. I look forward to working closely with the federal land management agencies and the public as we protect and enjoy our public lands,” Rolley said.

The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands. Its innovative partnership with the four land management agencies was formally established in April 2004 to implement cooperative projects through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act that fit the university’s educational and research strengths. The act specifies that a portion of the proceeds from federal land sales in southern Nevada be used for capital improvements, education, and conservation initiatives on public lands.

More information about the UNLV Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at publiclands.unlv.edu.

UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

2005 Take Pride in America National Award Winners Announced

Office of the Secretary
Contact: Michelle Cangelosi
For Immediate Release: August 18, 2005
(202) 208-5848

2005 TAKE PRIDE IN AMERICA ® NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

WASHINGTON – Executive Director Marti Allbright today announced the 2005 Take Pride in America National Award recipients in 11 different categories. These individuals, groups and partnerships will be honored at an awards ceremony held September 30 in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House’s Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C.

“It is such a delight to inform each of the award winners that we appreciate all that they have contributed to enhancing our public lands and we want them to be recognized for their accomplishments,” said Allbright. “They embody the mission of Take Pride, and we want that message spread across the country. This is just one way we can say ‘Thank you’ for what they represent.”

Each year, the award winners are selected by a panel of judges from hundreds of qualified nominations representing outstanding examples of stewardship across the country. The judges, representatives of government agencies and private corporations with an interest in the mission of Take Pride, scored the applications in four categories 1) did it coincide with Take Pride’s mission, 2)were there measurable accomplishments, 3) was there an identified need and results that had an impact, and 4) did they collaborate with others.

This year, there are 25 National Award winners, representing projects and events in more than 15 states. The projects range from Girls Scouts preparing a wetland for plants and fish to Take Pride in Florida organizing a single day event that involved 1,900 volunteers working at more than 100 state and national facilities in the aftermath of hurricanes that ravaged the State.

Take Pride in America ®, coordinated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, is a national partnership program that recruits, supports and recognizes volunteers who work to improve our public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas. With more than 100 Charter Partners, Take Pride involves Federal, state and local governments; conservation, youth and recreation groups; and top national corporations and organizations. Together, we protect and enhance the special legacy all Americans share – our public lands that cover more than one in every three acres across the Nation.

2005 Take Pride in America National Award Winners

Outstanding Take Pride Partner

• America the Beautiful Fund; Nationwide

Corporate

• Tauck World Discovery; Yellowstone National Park, WY


• Toyota Motor Sales, USA; Nationwide

Individual

• Darryll and Terri Wade; Ely , NV


• Dona Horan; Boise, ID

Youth

• Girl Scout Troop 187 and 506, Heart of Ohio ; Cutler, OH

Non-profit Organization

• Continental Divide Trail Alliance ; Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico


• Morris Land Conservancy's Partners for Parks programs ; Northern New Jersey


• The National Public Lands Day Program; Nationwide

School, Elementary

• Deer Creek Elementary School; Edmond, OK

School, Post-secondary

• Des Moines Area Community College, Biology 172 ; Johnston, IA

School, Secondary

• Rock Springs High School Environmental Students ; Rock Springs, WY

Local Government

• City of Colorado Spring Parks; Colorado Springs , CO

Public/Private Partnership

• Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary Restoration Project ; Saint Paul, MN


• Friends of Anahuac Refuge ; Anahuac, TX


• San Gorgonio Wilderness Association ; San Bernardino, CA

State

• Take Pride in Florida


• Texas Master Naturalist Program

Federal Land Managers

• Jeff Brune; Bureau of Land Management; Anchorage, AK


• Valerie J. Curley; Bureau of Reclamation; Fresno, CA


• Marsha Kearney; US Forest Service; FL


• Mark H. Woods; National Park Service; Middlesboro , KY


• Mark J. Musaus; Fish and Wildlife Service; Boynton Beach , FL

Federal Volunteer Program

• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP ; Hagerstown, MD


• Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program ; Las Vegas, NV

On the Move:Environmental

"On the Move:Environmental," Las Vegas Business Press.

Enviromental

UNLV's Public Lands Institute, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service, has named Douglas Joslin, Jr., to manage the Southern Nevada Take Pride in America Program. He most recently worked as environmental health manager for the Clark County Health District solid waste and compliance department

UNLV Public Lands Institute Names New Staff Member

LAS VEGAS-The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Lands Institute, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service, has named Douglas Joslin, Jr., to manage the Southern Nevada Take Pride in America Program. This program is a cooperative effort between the four federal agencies and is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998.

The Take Pride in America Program will provide a comprehensive strategic plan to combat littering and desert dumping on public lands throughout Southern Nevada, with particular attention to coordinating clean-up events. The program will also oversee the development of a public lands recycling plan.

Joslin brings to the Public Lands Institute over nine years of environmental health and safety experience in the municipal, private, and university settings. He most recently served as environmental health manager for the Clark County Health District Solid Waste and Compliance Department. "Having worked for many years on illegal dumping enforcement. I look forward to working with the federal land management agencies to develop a campaign that focuses on illegal dumping and litter prevention," Joslin said.

The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands. Its innovative partnership with the four land management agencies was formally established in April 2004 to implement cooperative projects through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act that fit the university’s educational and research strengths. The act specifies that a portion of the proceeds from federal land sales in southern Nevada be used for capital improvements, education, and conservation initiatives on public lands.

More information about the UNLV Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at publiclands.unlv.edu.

UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.