GFP News - December 4, 2012
- GFP Conservation Officer Honored
- Wildlife Action Plan Open Houses Scheduled
GFP Conservation Officer Honored
PIERRE, S.D. -- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks conservation officer Brian Humphrey has been honored by Shikar-Safari Club International as the South Dakota Wildlife Officer of the Year.
Humphrey, the conservation officer for Hutchinson and Turner counties, has been with GFP since 1997.
"Brian is very deserving of this award," said Marty Pennock, who is Humphrey's supervisor. "He has always shown extraordinary dedication to both the wildlife resources and the people he serves. He holds himself to the highest standards in all aspects of his work."
In receiving the honor, Humphrey was not only praised for his law enforcement work but also helping private landowners and sportsmen implement conservation programs. He is part of a team that enrolled more than 8,000 acres of land into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in his area.
Humphrey works on area lakes to oversee safety and law enforcement and is a past Boating Officer of the Year award winner. He logged more than 300 hours assisting in the Missouri River flood relief efforts last year.
One of his duties with GFP is serving as a training officer for other conservation officers. He also works as a mentor for newly assigned officers in his area and to officers who transfer into the region.
"Brian is an experienced and respected officer who truly cares about making the department the best it can possibly be," Pennock said. "His strength is his value of duty and his ability to serve people, while promoting an excellent image for our agency."
The Shikar-Safari Award is awarded annually in all 50 states and in 10 Canadian provinces by the worldwide conservation organization. It has been presented to a South Dakota officer each year since 1968. The award honors wildlife officers for their performances in wildlife protection, wildlife law enforcement, and in the implementation of wildlife conservation programs.
The award was presented to Humphrey at a recent regional meeting in Sioux Falls that included many of his fellow conservation officers and other Wildlife Division staff. He was also honored at the November GFP Commission meeting in Madison.
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Wildlife Action Plan Open Houses Scheduled
PIERRE, S.D. -- The state Game, Fish and Parks Department is revising its comprehensive South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan, and it will host two open houses for the public to learn more about the effort.
The first open house is on Dec. 12, from 6 - 9 p.m. MST at the GFP Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City. The second open house is on Dec. 13 from 6 - 9 p.m. CST at the GFP Outdoor Campus East in Sioux Falls. Each open house will begin with background information on the plan's purpose and approach. Game, Fish and Parks staff will be on hand to accept comments and answer questions.
In exchange for accepting certain federal funds, each state has prepared a comprehensive wildlife plan to outline how the needs of all fish and wildlife species should be addressed. Plans were developed under a broad framework, but customized to meet the needs of individual states.
South Dakota's plan was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2006. The Game, Fish and Parks Department is the lead agency in plan development and committed to revise the plan five years after its initial approval.
State wildlife action plans serve as a framework for state wildlife agencies and potential cooperators to work together for wildlife and healthy habitats. While much of the focus of the plans is to avoid future endangered species listings, the plans also help maintain common species in the face of known and likely future challenges.
More information about the planning effort can be viewed at: http://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife/management/plans/wildlife-action-plan.aspx