The Ridges Sanctuary Recognized with Land Trust Pioneer Award

Botanist Albert Fuller was one of the founders of The Ridges Sanctuary who embarked on a journey to conserve the parcel’s unique flora and fauna for future generations.

Gathering Waters Conservancy has selected The Ridges Sanctuary to receive the Harold “Bud” Jordahl Land Trust Pioneer Award.

The award, named for Harold Jordahl, founder of Gathering Waters and a Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame inductee, is given each year to an individual or organization of distinction in the area of land conservation projects, accomplishments or pursuits.

The Ridges, now celebrating its 75th anniversary, was the first land trust in Wisconsin. The Land Trust Pioneer Award is in recognition of the sanctuary’s inspiring stewardship of natural areas through educational programs, outreach and research, its impact on the history of land conservation throughout the state and its role in laying the groundwork for future conservation efforts throughout the Door Peninsula and beyond.

“We couldn’t be more pleased,” said Steve Leonard, executive director. “One of our founders, botanist Albert Fuller, discovered the rare flora here in 1935 and embarked on a two-year period of education and advocacy to preserve the original parcel.”

“Remarkably,” Leonard continued, “Fuller went on to become instrumental in numerous far-reaching conservation efforts, including the State Natural Areas and The Nature Conservancy. He truly has been one of the unsung heroes in conservation history, along with our other founders and all the members who have protected this special place. This award recognizes their dedication to conservation over the last 75 years.”

The 2012 Land Conservation Leadership Awards will be presented at Gathering Water’s Land Conservation Leadership Awards Celebration in Madison on October 4.