THE PUBLIC LANDS FOUNDATION has named Dave Yokel, Bureau of Land Management Wildlife Biologist at the Northern Field Office in Fairbanks, Alaska, as the Outstanding Public Lands Professional Technician for 2004.

Foundation President George Lea announced the selection, which recognizes Dave for not only an outstanding career with BLM, but for his leadership and professionalism in playing a key role in the development and implementation of extremely controversial management plans intended to carry forward the President’s National Energy Strategy.  Dave has made significant contributions to planning decisions that will open the National Petroleum Reserve, while protecting many important wildlife species,” Lea said.  “Dave’s effort to bring divergent interest groups together, with common goals, was not an easy task.  Under intense scrutiny and debate, he worked tirelessly to develop answers to questions related to the impact of oil industry exploration and development on wildlife and subsistence uses.”

This achievement will be permanently inscribed on the “Hall of Fame Award” plaque at the Bureau of Land Management headquarters in Washington, D. C.  This is another example of a professional career employee’s willingness to chart new direction in protecting and enhancing natural resources.