The Georgia Conservancy is proud to honor Georgia Governor Nathan Deal as Georgia’s Distinguished Conservationist at its annual gala, ecoBenefete, on October 12 in Atlanta. The Distinguished Conservationist Award recognizes an individual or institution that has left a profound and lasting impact on the conservation and protection of Georgia's natural resources. As Georgia’s top public servant, Governor Deal has made the conservation of our state’s land and water a priority during his two terms as Governor.

Past honorees have included: Ted Turner, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Georgia Tech College of Architecture, Senator Sam Nunn, Representative John Lewis, Lieutenant Governor Pierre Howard, as well as many more.

During his tenure as Governor, Nathan Deal has worked with legislators, conservation organizations and the business community to ensure that the protection and conservation of Georgia’s natural resources are considered and remain a priority when making critical decisions about the future of our state. The Governor’s annual budgets have provided nearly $50 million for land conservation since 2011, and he has signed into law measures that have provided greater protections for Georgia’s salt marsh, incentives for private land conservation, significant conservation of Jekyll Island, increased funding for our public lands through hunting and fishing license fees, and stronger regulations for the siting, permitting and construction of petroleum pipelines in Georgia. In 2017, Governor Deal made a $10.5 million investment in the Georgia Environmental Protection Division oversight of the state water metering program.

Additionally, the Governor’s commitment to the Gopher Tortoise Initiative has been critical in forwarding a collaborative mission to protect thousands of acres of public and private lands that are home to Georgia’s state reptile. Through the conservation of these vital acres, the gopher tortoise, a keystone species, will gain the opportunity to thrive and remain off of the Endangered Species list, benefiting both the ecology of Georgia’s wiregrass/longleaf pine habitats and the economy of our state.

“There is no bigger champion for our state’s natural resources than Governor Nathan Deal," says Mark Williams, Director of Georgia Department of Natural Resources. "Teddy Roosevelt once stated, 'There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.' Governor Deal has exemplified that mentality.  On behalf of all the sportsmen and women of this state, I can firmly say that his dedication to conservation has forever impacted generations of Georgians to come.”

The Georgia Conservancy’s ecoBenefete will be held on October 12, 2017 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill in Atlanta and will also recognized the Conservancy’s 50th Anniversary. Learn more at: www.georgiaconservancy.org/ecobenefete.