THE PUBLIC LANDS FOUNDATION presents Al Christophersen, Director of Habitat Stewardship Services with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, with a Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and Citation.  The Public Lands Foundation grants this recognition to honor private citizens and organizations that work to advance and sustain community-based stewardship on landscapes that include, in whole or in part, public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

In his nomination of Al Christophersen, Greg Reser, Natural Resource Specialist in the BLM’s Pinedale Field Office, states, “Al, in his position with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, has been the backbone of the ongoing Wyoming Front Aspen Regeneration Project since its inception in 2005.  Al’s work in promoting and generating funding for the project is second only to his dedication to preserving and enhancing Aspen ecosystems on BLM lands along the Wyoming Range Front.”

Al’s contributions to the project include creating Annual Operating Plans, setting up service work contracts, applying for outside funding sources, recruiting partners for the project, and marketing forest products and biomass coming off of the project sites.

Al was one of the principal creators and proponents of the project along with the BLM Pinedale Field Office.  Al’s ability to promote the benefits of the project has helped to recruit numerous partners and additional funding resources to allow the project to expand with each new year.

The Wyoming Front Aspen Regeneration Project was one of the first and largest stewardship agreements that BLM had entered into since stewardship authority was granted.  Al helped pen this stewardship agreement and this initial agreement has been the template for most agreements to date.  While developing and implementing the plan, Al’s leadership helped create a strong sense of trust surrounding the project, which enabled and encouraged many diverse partners to commit their resources and expertise.  Those partners include the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, State Forestry, RY Timber and NW Management.  The successful collaboration of partners on this project has increased the positive perception of the BLM’s mission to sustain the health, productivity, and diversity of public lands.  Al’s sense of stewardship for the land has set a very high standard and challenges all of us to strive toward excellence.

The Public Lands Foundation is pleased to present Al Christophersen with a Certificate of Appreciation and this Citation for invaluable contributions to the stewardship of America’s public landscapes.

September 15, 2010