PHOENIX – Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Duane Shroufe recently received two prestigious national and international conservation awards.

 Director Shroufe was presented the 2006 Distinguished Service Award from the Wildlife Management Institute on March 23 during the 71st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Shroufe also received the International Canvasback Award from the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

 Steven A. Williams, president of the Wildlife Management Institute, said that Director Shroufe has made substantial contributions to conservation of the continent’s wildlife and habitats. 

 “Initiatives as diverse as jaguar conservation in Mexico, wetland protection in Canada and advocacy for state agency excellence have benefited from Shroufe’s leadership,” he said.

 Shroufe, who began his career with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, came to the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 1989. “In the leadership role he assumed, his contributions to the stability and progressiveness of his agency and his professional conservation agenda are truly too numerous to list,” said Williams.
 
 Highlights of Shroufe’s accomplishments include the following:

* Establishment of the state-based Heritage Fund in 1990 to support projects to enhance and protect wildlife and habitats.
* Chairmanship of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council.
* Critical leadership in the development and evolution of the Teaming with Wildlife Initiative.
* Advancement of state-based collaborative initiatives to aid in the recovery of endangered species.
* Creation of partnerships with wildlife concerns in Mexico, including development of the first international and all-bird joint venture.
* Consistent leadership to improve customer service and wildlife conservation policies, programs and practices at the agency level.

   The International Canvasback Award recognized Director Shroufe for making major contributions to wetland conservation on national, international and state levels. Shroufe has served as a council member of the Pacific Flyway Council for 16 years and is the current chair of the North American Wetland Conservation Council. Shroufe is also past president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, continues to serve on various committees and is the chairman of the executive committee.

    “Duane has championed state participation in the flyway process and has been a vocal advocate for implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and continual improvements to the plan,” states the award.
  
    Most recently, Shroufe helped to implement a national questionnaire for duck hunters to help retain them as valuable partners for waterfowl conservation.