RPCI wins 2011 Recovery Champion Award

CNHP Botanist Susan Spackman Panjabi. Photo courtesy of USFWS. Source.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Tuesday that CNHP Botanist Susan Spackman Panjabi will receive a 2011 Partners-in-Mission Recovery Champion award for conserving endangered and threatened Colorado plants as a member of the Colorado Rare Plants Conservation Initiative (RPCI).

Members of RPCI come from dozens of different organizations and the award is intended for all members, but Susan is one of four people to receive honorary plaques to signify the team's collective conservation accomplishments. The other three are Betsy Neely of The Nature Conservancy, Brian Kurzel of the Colorado Natural Areas Program, and Jenny Neale of the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Recovery Champions are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and their partners whose work is advancing the recovery of endangered and threatened species of plants and animals. A total of 56 teams and nine individuals were honored as 2011 Recovery Champions for work to conserve species ranging from the polar bear in Alaska, rare plants in Colorado, and the Appalachian elktoe mussel and spotfin chub in North Carolina.

Congratulations to all RPCI members and way to go, Susan!