VIDEO: FDACS, DEP, FWC Recognize Florida Resource Managers of the Year in Virtual Ceremony

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, State Forester Erin Albury of the Florida Forest Service (FFS), Secretary Noah Valenstein of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and Executive Director Eric Sutton of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), presented the annual “Jim Stevenson Resource Manager of the Year” award to three recipients in a virtual ceremony.

Each recipient earned the award for their outstanding leadership and achievements in protecting Florida’s natural resources, and will receive a resolution signed by the full Florida Cabinet as well as a commemorative plaque. This year’s recipients include:

• FDACS/FFS: Vince Morris, Resource Administrator, Withlacoochee State Forest and Seminole State Forest
• FDEP: Paul Rice, Park Manager IV, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
• FWC: Nathan Bunting, Wildlife and Fisheries Biological Scientist III and Area Manager, Apalachee Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

VIDEO: The virtual award ceremony video can be viewed here on Facebook and can be viewed or downloaded here.

"The Florida we all love is home to some of the most beautiful, pristine and diverse lands, waters, and natural resources, so it’s important we do all we can to protect them for the next generation. Thank you to State Forester Albury, Secretary Valenstein, and Director Sutton for helping us honor these outstanding stewards of our incredible natural treasures that belong to all Floridians," said Commissioner Fried. "It's my privilege to recognize Vince Morris of the Florida Forest Service as our 'Jim Stevenson Resource Manager of the Year' award recipient this year, and on behalf of our state and our environment, to thank him for helping us keep Florida growing."

Background on Recipients:

Vince Morris started his career with the Florida Forest Service in 1996. Since that time, he has been promoted several times and now serves as the Resource Administrator for the Withlacoochee State Forest (164,073 acres) and Seminole State Forest (27,500 acres) located in central Florida. His responsibilities include managing all aspects of the resource section to include the harvesting and reforestation of timber resources, the management of endangered species, especially the red-cockaded woodpecker, and the treatment of numerous exotic species found in the forest. Morris also leads a prescribed burn program for the state forest system. Under Vince’s tenure, the red-cockaded woodpecker population has increased dramatically, exotics species are being treated and the longleaf pine-wiregrass community is thriving. 

Paul Rice has devoted his 39-year career to Florida’s state parks and currently manages more than 65.000 acres of upland and submerged resources at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park in Key Largo, Florida. Rice oversees efforts of multiple volunteer teams, which have contributed more than 1,800 plants to restore habitats at various parks in the Florida Keys since Hurricane Irma, contributed an additional 3,200 plants to the restorations at Port Bougainville and Carysfort, and have contributed to the health of several protected species, including the Schaus Swallowtail butterfly, Key Largo woodrat and several coral species. Other accomplishments include organizing an effort to reduce damage to seagrass beds and coral reefs at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and working with local citizens to start an official support organization for the parks. 

Nathan Bunting has worked for the FWC for over 18 years and is currently a Wildlife and Fisheries Biological Scientist III in the Northwest Region of Florida where he acts as Lead Area Manager for the Apalachee Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system. Under Bunting’s care, the Apalachee WMA is now considered an outstanding example of natural habitat and model of success for wildlife management and conservation areas. Many species of native plants, including two rare and endangered species, along with populations of white-tailed deer, wood ducks, and a near-threatened species, Northern bobwhites, have increased. Since Hurricane Michael in 2018, Bunting has worked tirelessly to recover the WMA, so that trees may be re-planted and public access restored. This recovery effort included salvage logging operations and tree debris removal on over 2,076 acres resulting in 95,525 tons of hurricane debris removed. 

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