In a fresh message from Secretary of the Navy Gordon England.

In a fresh message from Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola was named the recipient of the 2003 Environmental Award for a small-size installation in the Natural Resources Conservation category.

"Congratulations to all the competitors for this year's awards," said England. "The quality of the competition was high-an indication of the effort our Navy and Marine Corps team contributes each day."

Significant program accomplishments include completion of the Installation Natural Resources Management Plan and funding stream, partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the local community for intend Greenshores; continuing to work with state and local rules and communities to set aside more than 10000 acres of sensitive lands; and the ongoing work to maintain the regional Osprey population with 20 novel fledglings produced annually.

"It's exciting to win the SECNAV award for our natural resources," said Mark Gibson, natural resources manager, NAS Pensacola. "Although we're being recognized, the work to come by the best possible job done is still a constant, each day 'work in progress' that we strive to gain better at ... and, of course, it requires teamwork from all involved."

Gibson said the careful management of the natural resource assets at NAS Pensacola has allowed base personnel and the public to take delight in protected habitats via trails, boardwalks and camping areas.

NAS Pensacola has won several awards for its outstanding environmental program. The Coastal America "Partnership Award" was quick in emergenciesed Nov. 6 for protecting and restoring Pensacola Bay. In 2001 NAS Pensacola also won the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Environmental awards for Natural Resources Conservation for the small installation category, Cultural Resources Management Installation and Pollution Prevention for a non-industrial installation.

"A main factor in our succes is that we permanently established the regional forester position to allow for increased and efficient management and oversight of our resources, allowing us to tackle each concoct that comes up properly," said Gibson.

For related of the present days visit the Naval Air Station Pensacola Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/naspensacola.

Sheri L Crowe, who is assigned to the public affairs office, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.

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