Two California residents honored as 2014 Endangered Species Recovery Champions

Florence LaRiviere and Gary D. Wallace, 2014 Recovery Champions. Photos courtesy U.S. FWS.

- via a press release from the Sacramento office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region.

The story of endangered species conservation in the United States involves many heroes. Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized 69 of these heroes for their outstanding efforts to conserve and protect endangered and threatened fish, wildlife and plants by designating them 2014 Recovery Champions. Among the award winners honored for their work from the Pacific Southwest Region were two California residents, Florence LaRiviere and Dr. Gary Wallace.

"If we want to sustain the diversity and abundance of our nation's fish, wildlife and plants for future generations, we have to find places for them to coexist with humans on the landscape. That's why wildlife conservation is as much about working with people as it is about protecting animals and habitat," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. "The leaders we honor as Recovery Champions understand that crucial truth, and continue to build and strengthen partnerships with community leaders and institutions to make a real difference for imperiled wildlife."

Florence LaRiviere at Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy U.S. FWS.

Mrs. Florence LaRiviere is a Recovery Champion for her extensive efforts towards the protection of the tidal marsh ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay and the recovery of its associated species. In 1972, her personal dedication was instrumental to the establishment of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the nation's first urban national wildlife refuge. In 1985, she cofounded and led the Citizens’ Committee to Complete the Refuge which tirelessly fought and ultimately succeeded in more than doubling the size of the refuge. Mrs. LaRiviere's pioneering efforts to establish this first ever “friends” group in support of a national wildlife refuge is a model for what a friends group can accomplish.

Dr. Gary D. Wallace in his botany lab. Photo courtesy U.S. FWS.

Retired Service botanist Dr. Gary D. Wallace is recognized for his excellence in botany and conservation of numerous southern California flora. His efforts as a botanist and a research associate with Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden contributed to the conservation of many federally-listed plant taxa, especially Coachella Valley milk-vetch, Peirson's milk-vetch, ash-gray paintbrush, southern mountains wild buckwheat, willowy monardella, San Clemente Island lotus, and San Clemente Island paintbrush. With nearly five decades of experience with California flora, Dr. Wallace has made large contributions to plant systematics and nomenclature, plant and restoration ecology, and management and recovery of rare taxa.

“Florence and Gary are examples for all of us,” said Ren Lohoefener, Regional Director of the Pacific Southwest Region. “Their unselfish, long-term, and unflagging efforts to protect and recover threatened and endangered species serve the species, the environment, and our future. It is a pleasure to recognize Gary and Florence as champions of conservation.”

The Recovery Champion awards began in 2002 as a recognition program for Service staff members for their achievements in conserving listed species. In 2007, the program was expanded to honor Service partners, recognizing their essential role in the recovery of threatened and endangered species.

For information about the 2014 Recovery Champions, please visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-champions/

Contact: Pam Bierce, (916) 414-6542 pamela_bierce@fws.gov