Minnesota Legislators Honored for Conservation Leadership

MINNEAPOLIS — September 24, 2007 — The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota is pleased to recognize outstanding contributions made by five state legislators to conserve Minnesota’s lands and waters. Sen. Ellen Anderson (D-St. Paul), Sen. Dennis Frederickson (R-New Ulm), Rep. Rick Hansen (D-South St. Paul), Rep. Kathy Tingelstad (R-Andover) and Rep. Jean Wagenius (D-Minneapolis) were each given the Conservancy’s Government Relations Awards today.

In the 2007 legislative session, these legislators were the lead champions who advocated for $21 million in increased state funding for Conservancy priorities to help conserve Minnesota’s forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands. A second session highlight was a conference committee agreement for a constitutional amendment allowing voters the choice to increase the state sales tax by 3/8 percent (3 cents on an $8 purchase) for clean water, habitat conservation, parks and trails and the arts. If approved by the Legislature in 2008, the amendment would be placed on the ballot for the 2008 General Election.

Each year, the Conservancy presents its Government Relations Awards to individuals who exhibit outstanding leadership in government policy and funding targeted toward conserving native plants and animals.

“The Conservancy applauds Sens. Anderson and Frederickson and Reps. Hansen, Tingelstad and Wagenius for their efforts to conserve Minnesota’s lands and waters,” said John Himle, who chairs the Public Affairs Committee for the Conservancy’s Minnesota Board of Trustees.

“By conserving our most significant natural areas, we not only provide habitat for wildlife, we also invest in our quality of life,” said Peggy Leppik, who serves on the Conservancy’s Minnesota Board of Trustees and as vice chair of its Public Affairs Committee.

Sen. Anderson is being recognized for her leadership on the Renewable Energy Standard, Clean Water Legacy, invasive species management and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) bill that included $10.83 million in Conservancy priorities.

Sen. Frederickson championed the constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the state sales tax to natural resources and for his leadership on the LCCMR where he is a strong advocate for the Habitat Corridors Partnership, Forest Legacy and the County Biological Survey. This is third time Frederickson has been honored by the Conservancy with a Government Relations Award for his conservation leadership in Minnesota.

Rep. Hansen is also recognized for his leadership on the constitutional amendment, and also advocated for a $3.8 million increase in invasive species management funding, which included a Conservancy initiative for $600,000 to start Cooperative Weed Management Areas at the county level.

Rep. Tingelstad is receiving the award for her long-term advocacy for conservation, and outstanding leadership this year on the LCCMR bill that included $10.83 million for Conservancy priorities like the Habitat Corridors Partnership, Forest Legacy and the County Biological Survey.

Rep. Wagenius is being honored for her leadership to enact Clean Water Legacy legislation, and for being the primary champion for invasive species management and the protection and restoration of Minnesota’s native prairies.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.