Arizona state director receives Advocate of the Year Award from game and fish department

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission presented BLM Arizona State Director Ray Suazo with its 2019 Advocate of the Year award at an awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has held its annual awards banquets since 1991. The commission describes the banquet as “an opportunity to recognize individuals, groups and organizations for their contributions to Arizona’s wildlife resources.”

Suazo was recognized for leading and supporting the BLM Arizona team to collaborate with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) on a variety of efforts including habitat management, aquatic invasive species, and wild horse and burro management. In particular, the nomination recognized Suazo for facilitating collaboration between AZGFD and BLM to study and improve mule deer and desert bighorn sheep migration corridors in western Arizona. 

In late 2018, AZGFD and BLM began planning efforts to collar deer and sheep, but a lapse in appropriations meant many BLM employees were on furlough. In the award presentation, the Commission stated, “By mid-January, with the window for wildlife captures just weeks away, the Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department called Ray, and Ray’s immediate response was ‘What can I do to help?’.… Within a few weeks of coordination with Ray, [AZGFD] received the green light for the wildlife capture operation, which was completed without any delays…. Ray directly ensured the BLM was able to support [AZGFD’s] needs during a challenging period when most of his staff were furloughed.”

“Without a doubt, Mr. Suazo is an innovative leader with an eye to partnerships and collaboration,” the award nomination stated, “and we in Arizona have benefited greatly from having Ray as a part of this state’s conservation team.”