Fur Institute of Canada is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2010 North American Furbearer Conservation Award. This annual award, under the generous sponsorship of North American Fur Auctions (NAFA), recognizes outstanding furbearer and habitat conservation in North America.

Two deserving individuals shared last year’s award – David Neave, former FIC Director, and Milan Novak, former furbearer management coordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Both David’s and Milan’s working lives were devoted to wildlife conservation and humane trapping. The 2008 award was presented to Pierre Canac-Marquis of Faune et Parcs Québec and long-time Technical Vice-Chairman of the FIC’s Trap Research and Development Committee. Pierre’s stellar leadership and hard work on the trap research program were recognized as instrumental in establishing Canada’s pre-eminent position in humane trapping and its application to furbearer conservation. The inaugural award in 2007 was granted posthumously to J. Michael Waldram of the Manitoba Model Forest for outstanding work in furbearer habitat conservation.

The annual deadline for nominations is April 1. Details on the award criteria and the nomination form can be found on our website at http://www.fur.ca/index-e/conservation/index.asp?action=conservation&page=award.
Please feel free to send this link on to your network of contacts and encourage nominations for this prestigious award.

The recipient of the 2010 Award will be brought to the NAFA May auction in Toronto, where he or she will be presented a framed limited-edition art print before the international fur community. The recipient will be further recognized by his or her peers on June 12, 2010 during the Annual General Meeting of the Fur Institute of Canada in St. John’s, Newfoundland.