At the recent national Audubon board meeting, Audubon presented its “Conservation Hero” award to Ohio’s Senator Rob Portman. Senator Portman was one of over a dozen public officials honored for their actions to protect birds and habitat.
In presenting the award, Audubon president David Yarnold noted that Portman has worked to protect our naitional parks, leads an effort to preserve the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and is co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus. Senator Portmnan offered these comments:
I am honored to receive the National Audubon Society’s Conservation Hero award. Hundreds of bird species migrate through Ohio each year, making Lake Erie one of the most popular destinations for birdwatching. Birding contributes more than $20 million to Ohio’s tourism industry and attracts visitors from across the world each year. I am proud to work with my colleagues on the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Act to protect and conserve more than 380 species of birds. I will continue to lead efforts in support of programs, like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, that protect critical bird habitats in the Great Lakes region and abroad.
Please join us in thanking Senator Portman for his past work and encouraging him to continue his conservation efforts!
You can read about all of the Conservation Hero awards on awards on the Audubon Web site.