FWC recognizes private landowners for support

April 16, 2009
Contact: Patricia Behnke, 850-251-2130

A Florida couple has dedicated their lives to conservation of Florida's wildlife. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recognized Daphne and Martin Wood of Monticello at Thursday's Commission meeting in Tallahassee.

Daphne is the chairman of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and Martin serves on various committees of the foundation.

"Marty and Daphne epitomize what stewards of our fish and wildlife resources should be," said Ken Haddad, executive director of the FWC. "Through their work on the Wildlife Foundation of Florida they bring direct assistance and caring to the programs and staff of the FWC."

Haddad also recognized their stewardship as private landowners in North Florida and their promotion of "conservation easements and exemplary stewardship on all private lands."

Over the years, they have provided financial support not only to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, but to the Future of Hunting in Florida, U.S. Sportsman's Alliance's Trailblazer program for youth, Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, the FWC's Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center, the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource, 1000 Friends of Florida and many other wildlife-related organizations.

Haddad told the Commission the Woods believe whole-heartedly in the statement, "We will be judged not by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy."

The Woods' property near Monticello hosts dozens of threatened and endangered species, including gopher tortoises, pitcher plants, wiregrass and the largest area of toothache grass outside of a state park.

This couple has taken their passion for hunting, fishing and the outdoors and applied it directly to conservation of land and effective land management.

"I can't speak highly enough about their generosity and engaging spirit for the work we do at the FWC," Haddad said. "They are true friends of the FWC, and for that we cannot thank them enough."