Awards

Conservation work earns award for Kosman, PRBE

STAR-HERALD, SCOTTSBLUFF, NE: Feb. 17, 2008

Scottsbluff banker Hod Kosman and Platte River Basin Environments Inc. have been recognized as Nebraska’s “Outstanding Wildlife Conservationist of the Year.”

In making the joint award given by Pheasants Forever and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Kosman and PRBE were recognized for forming coalitions and bringing together diverse groups for a common purpose. The group works with public and private entities to purchase properties to convert to recreational public land.

Kosman said he was totally surprised by the award and was in Grand Island at the Pheasants Forever because there were numerous presenters dealing with habitat preservation.

According to Peter S. Berthelsen, senior field coordinator for Pheasants Forever Inc., the award that was presented states: “Presented for your many years of service and dedication to the sportspeople of Nebraska. By helping guide the efforts of the Platte River Basin Environments, Inc. and its partnerships with many state and federal agencies, conservation groups and businesses, you have impacted the landscape of the North Platte River Basin. Working in a ‘partnership’ format, you have created a legacy of protecting wildlife habitat, providing public access and improving wild lands appreciation.”

Berthelsen said the award has been presented each year since 2002 and is given to an individual, group or agency that best represents the ideals of working in a “partnership” to accomplish its goal and objectives.

Kosman said such collaboration is important today because it brings together some of the best minds in conservation and allows the sharing of resources.

“The award was pretty much for everything we do in total,” Kosman said. “When you consider the breadth of our impact on conservation on this part of the region, you can truly understand the importance of a partnership.”

As an example, Kosman said Friday, February 15, 2008, that PRBE has just been notified that it has been awarded a $900,000 preliminary Nebraska Environmental Trust Grant, subject to final approval following public comment, to acquire the Montz Point Ranch south of Stegall in the Wildcat Hills.

Kosman said with a state lease, there will be 5,400 acres acquired through a partnership between PRBE, Pheasants Forever, the Nature Conservancy, Nebraska Game and Parks, Nebraska Environmental Trust and others.

If approved, Kosman said, there would be 35 square-miles of conservation property in the Wildcat Hills that will become part of the Wildlands Initiative.

The initiative is bringing together numerous organizations to ultimately create a master plan for the Wildcat Hills area that will establish a coordinated management approach.

Nebraska’s Hod Kosman wins Ducks Unlimited 2006 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award

2006 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 24, 2006 – Ducks Unlimited has recognized Nebraska’s Hod Kosman with its 2006 Private Citizen Achievement Award. Officials from Ducks Unlimited today announced the winners of the 2006 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards and the State Grant Awards at the 71st annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

DU’s Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and protection of North America’s wetlands and waterfowl habitat.

Kosman helped to form and lead the Platte River Basin Environments (PRBE), which has helped to protect and restore 2,850 acres of wetlands and river bottom and 8,699 acres of uplands. He has been part of establishing four state wildlife management areas and one nature center at a state recreation area.

Kosman’s efforts have helped to secure grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, NAWCA, and numerous conservation organizations. He has served in numerous leadership positions including as board member of the Nebraska Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He currently serves as a member of DU’s Conservation Programs Committee and has played an integral role in supporting DU’s Platte River Initiative, which is working to protect 50,000 acres of the river’s floodplain from the headwaters in Colorado to the confluence with the Missouri River in Nebraska.

“Each of these citizens has made a profound difference in wetlands conservation,” said DU executive vice president Don Young. “We are proud to honor them with Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards — testaments to their outstanding impact on our mission.”

Trust Receives Award from Platte River Basin Environments

The Nebraska Environmental Trust was recently honored with the "2007 Partners in Conservation Award" by Hod Kosman, President of the Platte River Basin Environments at an Appreciation Dinner held in Scottsblufff last month.

"Platte River Basin Environments and all of our Western Nebraska partners and sister conservation organization can envision no finer partner than the Nebraska Environmental Trust - you have encouraged - facilitated and empowered us to go farther and realize our dreams we never thought possible. You have allowed us to catch the imagination of a vast region. We have partners, volunteers and contributors from all walks of life - they care about our WILD RESOURCES and balancing those resources with the progress and prosperity that our communities all seek" said Hod. He added, " We believe that what we do is forever and forever is a long, long time."

Accepting the award were Gloria Erickson, Chairperson of the Nebraska Environmental Trust, Mark Brohman, the Executive Director and Lisa Beethe, the Grants Administrator who were at the event.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Award, 2004

Platte River Basin Environments, Inc., was selected for the 2004 National Wetlands Conservation Award To The Private Sector - Regional Winner – Region 6, by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the outstanding record of accomplishment in conserving and restoring wetlands to benefit wildlife and other resources.