Honoree Receives Audubon/Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship
New York, NY: A Sparks, Nevada woman is the recipient of a new national fellowship designed to advance the work of individuals with outstanding potential to help shape a brighter environmental future.
Robin Powell is one of only 40 people selected from competitors nationwide for the TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Program, part of a new conservation initiative of the National Audubon Society with support from Toyota. Fellows receive specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation. Each Fellow will also receive $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.
Powell will focus her efforts on helping build conservation stewardship in the Lahontan Valley Wetlands Important Bird Area which is the largest important bird area in Nevada. Powell will be working with local landowners and land managers to foster their leadership skills and build a conservation action network that will, in turn, help protect the wildlife that depends on this unique ecosystem for habitat, including many birds that are listed as species of concern. Powell will integrate the various cultural, ecological, and economical viewpoints of the different groups – including federal, state, and tribal personnel, recreational groups, non-profit organizations, and private landowners – in order to promote a unified conservation effort for the region, keeping it a healthy, beautiful place for all Nevada residents to enjoy.
Involved in conservation efforts for over a decade, Powell is currently the Nevada Director of Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society. In her current position, Powell manages Nevada’s 39 Important Bird Areas, where she is focused on building partnerships and collaborations with key partners to protect, restore, and enhance key habitats within the important bird areas. Previously, she worked as an environmental manager for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and environmental specialist for the Walker River Paiute Tribe for over eight years, helping community members to protect and improve their lands’ health and natural resources.
“Robin is the kind of person who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,” said Audubon President John Flicker. “Each of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come.”
“I am very excited about the opportunities that the TogetherGreen Fellowship has afforded,” said Powell. “The Lahontan Valley Wetlands Important Bird Area is very unique due to the diversity of bird species, the congregations of migrating birds, and the extreme importance that the wetland, shrubland, and agricultural habitats provide to support migrating and residential birds. I look forward to strengthening conservation stewardship, increasing collaborative conservation activities within the valley, and fostering partnerships across diverse groups of interest.”
Powell has been affiliated with the National Audubon Society since 2007. Half of the TogetherGreen fellows come from within Audubon’s far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.
Powell received a Bachelors degree in biology and anthropology from the University of Nevada.
“Toyota believes in the power of grassroots efforts to develop the environmental leaders of tomorrow,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. “These 40 TogetherGreen Fellows will receive invaluable training for the future while immediately making a difference today with on-the-ground community projects.”
A complete list of the 2008 TogetherGreen fellows can be found at www.TogetherGreen.org/fellows.
<>
Sparks Woman Singled Out for Environmental Leadership
