The U.S. Forest Service recently put out a press release about the recent recognition of appreciation given to an environmental professional in the USET family, Les Benedict of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.
From the press release:
“On Earth Day, Regional Forester Gina Owens recognized a tribal partner for his decades-long work with the agency. Les Benedict, a member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, located in upstate New York, has been the assistant director of the tribe’s Environment Division for over 30 years. During this time, he has worked extensively with the Eastern Region’s Durham field office and other groups on a myriad of forest health-related issues and projects…..Durham U.S. Forest Service representative, Connie Carpenter, had this to say about Les’s work, “In a relationship built on respect, trust and shared passion for forest health, he has been a quintessential partner with the Durham field office. In addition to working with us on large-scale efforts in recent years, such as an integrated approach to managing emerald ash borer in forested areas and the largest emerald ash borer delimitation survey ever conducted on tribal land, he has always been extremely generous in sharing his time and knowledge with other stakeholders and tribes.”