Arbor Day Foundation Honors DNR Forestry Director With National Award

Nebraska City, Neb. (May 12, 2010) — The Arbor Day Foundation presented Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service Director Steve Koehn with a 2010 Arbor Day Award for his dedication to planting trees and conservation efforts.

Koehn is one of 17 individuals and organizations who were honored by the Arbor Day Foundation for environmental stewardship at the annual Arbor Day Awards Banquet, which was held at Lied Lodge & Conference Center in Nebraska City on May 1.

“Our forests are one of Maryland’s most valuable natural resources,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “I congratulate Steve on his hard work and dedication in managing these vital resources for our sustainable future.”

Koehn played a vital leadership role in the passage of the Maryland Sustainable Forestry Act of 2009. This historic act recognizes that an important way to clean Maryland’s vast Chesapeake Bay ecosystem is through healthy forests. This law could change the way many states view watershed restoration. It also encourages Maryland landowners to protect their forested areas and practice sound sustainable forestry and stewardship. Koehn has been a longtime champion of trees, with 26 years of experience in forest resource management. He has served as DNR Forest Service Director for nine years.

The Arbor Day Awards annually honors innovative and extraordinary individuals and organizations that are involved in tree planting and conservation practices. Since 1972, the Foundation has presented Arbor Day Awards for work at the international, national, state, and community levels to recognize conservation efforts such as tree planting and care, Arbor Day celebrations, education, community projects and volunteer engagement.

Koehn will receive the Champion of Trees Award for advancing public forestry policy.

“People like Steve Koehn are making a positive impact on the Earth by putting their values into thoughtful actions for the benefit of all mankind,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The efforts of our Arbor Day Award winners are a shining example of conservation practices for people everywhere.”

The Arbor Day Foundation has granted the Arbor Day Awards since 1972. Past winners include Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai; Chicago Mayor Richard Daley; former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall; veteran newsman Bill Kurtis; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; and The Walt Disney Company.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov