Adam Putnam Receives BlueGreen Award for Conservation Leadership

Article and Graphic by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
WESTON, FL – The Wildlife Foundation of Florida recognized Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam Saturday with the BlueGreen Award for Conservation Leadership for his outstanding support for the conservation of Florida's world-renowned wildlife. Presented annually, the award acknowledges sportsmen, business leaders, elected officials and engaged citizens who make a lasting difference for the future of Florida's wildlife — and wildlife habitat.
“It's an honor to receive this award from an organization that truly understands, and works so hard to conserve, the immeasurable value of Florida's wildlife and wildlife habitat,” Putnam said. “I'm proud to work alongside organizations like the Wildlife Foundation of Florida to conserve the economic, cultural and recreational value of our wildlife resources for Florida's next generation.”
Putnam received the award during the Wildlife Foundation of Florida's third annual BlueGreen event in Weston, Florida.
"On behalf of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, I want to thank Commissioner Putnam for his efforts to preserve and protect Florida's precious wildlife resources," said Rodney Barreto chairman of WFF. "Adam has been instrumental in helping develop and support a strong connection between fish and wildlife conservation and traditional agricultural practices. Without this type of support and coordination, effective conservation in Florida is much tougher.”
In addition to managing more than 1 million acres of state forests and creating Operation Outdoor Freedom, which provides recreational opportunities for wounded veterans on state forest and agricultural lands, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services operates the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program acquires perpetual agricultural conservation easements that ensure privately owned lands are preserved in agricultural use while providing for the protection of vital natural resources. There are more than 5,000 acres of privately owned land in Florida protected as part of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
The department also partners with Florida's ranchers, farmers and landowners to implement both water and wildlife best management practices. To date, more than 10 million acres of agricultural lands have adopted water-saving techniques and implemented new technologies to protect and conserve Florida's water supply. Collectively, agricultural producers saved more than 1 billion gallons of water last year.