Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Supervisor named Federal Land Manager of the Year

GAINESVILLE - Forest Supervisor George Bain on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in Georgia is the 2012 Federal Land Manager of the Year for the USDA Forest Service. He was honored Thursday at a national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The Federal Land Manager of the Year award is given annually as part of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Take Pride in America program, a nationwide partnership authorized by Congress to promote the appreciation and stewardship of our nation’s public lands. Bain is being honored for his contribution to public lands and for his effort in engaging communities in creative and innovative ways that built new and strengthened existing partnerships.

“This prestigious award honors both George’s leadership and the commitment of the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests’ partners,” said Liz Agpaoa, Southern Regional Forester for the USDA Forest Service. “He and his staff’s successful efforts to engage with local communities will help us begin to meet the challenge of restoring healthy forests in the State of Georgia.”

Among other achievements, Bain was recognized for leading a strategy to involve and engage a broad spectrum of partners, individuals and groups in the stewardship of Georgia’s national forests. This includes a recent forest-wide collaborative effort with recreation trail users to help identify and maintain a diverse and quality trail system. In 2010, volunteer contributions to the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests amounted to the equivalent of twenty-one full time employees assisting with trail maintenance, repair and construction.

“It is inspiring to see the level of commitment from our partners and national forest staff to keep this collaborative process moving forward,” said Bain. “As a result, we are seeing more interest in our trails and more volunteers willing to give of themselves to keep these trails functioning as they should.”