Ferebee Receives National Award for Conservation Excellence
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Brian Ferebee, chief executive of intergovernmental relations for the USDA Forest Service, was awarded the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Government Partner Award during the NWTF’s 49th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
“I am deeply honored to receive the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Government Partner of the Year Award,” Ferebee said. “This recognition reflects the power of collaboration and shared vision in addressing some of our most pressing challenges, from wildfire resilience to ecosystem restoration. I think of the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative from my time as regional forester for the Rocky Mountain region, and the Wildfire Crisis Strategy in my time as chief executive, as living testaments to what we can achieve together, and I am grateful to NWTF, and many other partners, for their unwavering commitment to this work. Our collective efforts will leave a lasting impact for future generations, and I’m proud to be part of this important journey.”
Ferebee exemplifies what can be accomplished when a government employee with a passion for ecosystems that support wildlife is willing to help solve conservation challenges.
Throughout his various roles with the Forest Service — from the regional level to the national level — he has always been a champion for not only the wild turkey, but for the diverse habitats they call home across this country.
Ferebee is a huge supporter of our hunting heritage mission and has been a member of the NWTF for years. He is always willing to work with partners like NWTF for collaborative projects.
During his tenure as a regional forester, he initiated the Rocky Mountain Region “Shared Stewardship Strategy” project, co-convened by the Forest Service and the NWTF in 2019. That project went from concept, to planning, then to implementation in six months and became known as the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative in Colorado. Now in the fifth year of RMRI, partners have completed nearly 100,000 acres of hazardous fuel treatments that protect communities, watersheds, forests and wildlife habitat, while also maintaining recreational opportunities.
In his current role, he is responsible for building relationships between partners and local governments. He is now a leader for the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to treat 20 million acres of national forest and 30 million acres of other federal, state and private lands.
Ferebee offered the NWTF a seat at the table with the Wildfire Risk Reduction Solutions national team that he led. This opportunity allowed the NWTF to assist in developing WCS policy. In a little over one year, the project has completed 10,000 acres of treatments. His strong advocacy for the NWTF’s mission has elevated the NWTF to a new and recognizable national level.
“We are humbled by our partnership with the Forest Service,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “But what makes our partnership and collaboration so effective are the passionate people within the agency who care about our nation’s natural resources, and Brian exemplifies this. A huge thank you to Brian for being a facilitator of good for our nation’s national forests.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.