Honoree Receives Audubon/Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship
New York, NY. —A Richmond, Vermont resident 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.
Jim Shallow 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.
For his fellowship, Shallow will focus his efforts on conserving the Sherman Hollow Brook Watershed now and into the future. He will be testing new software to apply the principles of Adaptive Management - to create strategies that work with community to protect the natural resources of Sherman Hollow. He will use this experience to teach to other conservationists who need to develop more effective conservation plans themselves. Sherman Hollow is a unique place where nature, education and recreation come together. Development threatens to fragment forest habitat and degrade water quality in the watershed. Shallow’s project will work with the people in the community to protect wildlife habitat, open space and the opportunities to earn about nature, wildlife and conservation at the Green Mountain Audubon Center, Birds of Vermont Museum and the Sleepy Hollow Inn and Ski Touring Center.
Involved in conservation efforts for two decades, Shallow is currently the Conservation and Policy Director of Audubon Vermont. He previously served as the Vermont Natural Resources Council’s Forest Program Director and as Audubon Vermont’s Executive Director—giving him the background and experience that he can now share with other conservationists to support and strengthen their own efforts.
“Jim 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 have the privilege to live and work in a landscape that is home to both dynamic conservation minded-people and communities and vibrant wildlife populations,” said Shallow. “This fellowship will help me tap into a national network to give back to the local community and help protect the wildlife, forests and rivers we all cherish.”
Shallow has been affiliated with Audubon Vermont since 1997. Half of the TogetherGreen fellows come from within Audubon’s far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.
Shallow received a Bachelors degree in history and political science from Colorado College. In addition to his duties for Audubon Vermont, Shallow sits on the board of the Vermont League of Conservation Voters and is a founding member of the Vermont Woodlands Association.
“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.
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Richmond Resident Singled Out for Environmental Leadership
