Cody Field Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Beckwith | |||
| 307-347-5207 |
BLM Cody's Jack Mononi Receives National Awards
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Supervisory Range Management Specialist Jack Mononi has recently received two prestigious national awards: the 2012 Elk Conservation Achievement Award for Individual Achievement from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the 2011 BLM Division of Rangeland Resources, Rangeland Management Specialist Recognition Award from the Society for Range Management (SRM).
 RMEF Chief Operating Officer Rod Triepke, Mononi and BLM Washington Office Chief of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Dwight Fielder at the RMEF award presentation. (courtesy of RMEF) | |
 Triepke, Mononi and BLM Wyoming State Director Don Simpson during the annual RMEF convention on February 2 in Las Vegas. (courtesy of RMEF) | |
 Jack Mononi receives RMEF’s 2012 Elk Conservation Achievement Award for Individual Achievement. (courtesy of RMEF) | |
 Mononi and RMEF Honorary Director Bob Munson on a 2011 tour of the Devils Canyon Area. |
The RMEF Elk Conservation Individual Achievement Award, presented on February 2 during the annual RMEF convention in Las Vegas, recognizes Mononi for his long-standing commitment to excellence in the enhancement and conservation of habitat for elk and other wildlife. Mononi has partnered with RMEF since 1993, submitting 30 successful grant proposals over the past 18 years to enhance more than 20,000 acres of wildlife habitat in northwest Wyoming.
“These awards are meant to give a pat on the back and a thank-you to some of the finest professionals anywhere in wildlife conservation,” said Blake Henning, vice president of lands and conservation for RMEF. “Together, the BLM, U.S. Forest Service and RMEF are making a real difference in elk country.”
Perhaps most notable is Mononi’s work related to the Devil’s Canyon land acquisition on Little Mountain, approximately 15 miles east of Lovell, Wyo. In 2003, the public acquired approximately 8,200 acres of land on and near Little Mountain to be managed by the BLM, with an additional 3,000 acres acquired in 2010. Acquisition of the land improved public access to thousands of acres of BLM-administered public, National Forest and State of Wyoming lands on the west slope of the Bighorn Mountains, known as the Craig Thomas Little Mountain Special Management Area.
“Jack has shown great dedication to public access on Little Mountain and to the protection of the natural and cultural resources found there,” said BLM Wyoming State Director Don Simpson. “This is evident in the positive and effective working relationship between the BLM and RMEF.”
Mononi’s work in the Devil’s Canyon area has included the development of grazing management practices to benefit elk and other wildlife; planning in big game winter ranges to protect wildlife during critical wintering periods; facilitation of discussions and planning leading to the acquisition of Devil’s Canyon land into public ownership; and the implementation of multiple wildlife habitat improvement projects including aspen enhancement and regeneration, water developments and spring protection, invasive species reduction and prescribed burning.
In fact, a 560-acre, RMEF-funded prescribed burn at Devil’s Canyon last spring helped RMEF reach a significant milestone in its 27-year history—its 6 millionth acre of habitat protected or enhanced for elk and other wildlife.
Partners cooperating with the BLM on the Devil’s Canyon acquisition and habitat improvement projects over the past several years include RMEF, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Bischoff Enterprises, E.O. Bischoff Ranches, Bighorn National Forest, Trust for Public Lands, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Big Horn County, Local Sage Grouse Working Group, Office of State Lands and Investments, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Trust Fund and other supporters.
Also awarded to Mononi in early February was the SRM Rangeland Management Specialist Recognition Award which recognizes a single BLM employee from each of several western states for outstanding service. Mononi was selected as the deserving recipient in Wyoming for his communication skills, field work, professionalism, tenacity and sustained high performance. His leadership skills and ability to collaborate with coworkers, partners, other agencies and the public have led to significant positive improvements across the landscape.
“Receiving these awards is a success story for all of our partners and stakeholders, the Cody Field Office and the entire BLM,” Mononi concluded. “This is an example of building trust and working in cooperation with partners to improve land health for all.”
For more information about RMEF visit www.rmef.org. For more information about SRM visit www.rangelands.org.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Cody Field Office 1002 Blackburn Street Cody, WY 82414