Nomination Statement for Nancy Douglass, recipient of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s 2017 Influential Woman in Wildlife Award

Nancy Douglass is Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) subsection leader for Regional Operations within FWC’s Species Conservation Planning Section. She received a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from Duke University and has worked for the FWC since 1989.

As a driving force behind coastal bird conservation in Florida, Nancy has spearheaded the movement to elevate the conservation of Florida's shorebirds and seabirds to a top priority statewide. She worked on biological status reviews for species such as the Snowy Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Black Skimmer, which are now state threatened, and her work on Red Knots helped inform that species’ federal listing. She was also the Team Lead for the state’s Species Action Plan for Four Imperiled Beach-Nesting Birds. As she became deeply involved in shorebird conservation issues, Nancy saw the need for a statewide shorebird conservation partnership. To further that goal, she was the impetus for the creation of the Florida Shorebird Alliance, now a nationally recognized program for coastal bird conservation and monitoring. She has also played an important role in securing funding from various conservation organizations, including a multi-million dollar grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Nancy has devotedly conducted her work in a tireless manner, working collaboratively with other agencies and NGOs, all with a wonderfully contagious positive attitude. She has a clear vision of what needs to be done for conservation of Florida’s coastal birds. For her persistence, collaboration, and constructive approach, she serves as an inspiration for others interested in protecting Florida wildlife.