Three Florida agencies have recognized three land managers for their work in natural resource management as the 2024 Jim Stevenson Resource Managers of the Year. The awards were presented by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Patricia “Patty” Wilbur, a Biological Scientist II at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park with the Florida Park Service, was honored for her two decades of service. She has led large-scale habitat restoration projects, including a significant upland pine restoration that restored over 1,000 acres. Wilbur is known for her leadership in prescribed fire management, having overseen 63 burns since 2011 and participated in nearly 200 prescribed burns overall. Her responsibilities also include managing invasive species and supporting hydrological restoration.
Charlie Pedersen, Biologist III at Waccasassa Forestry Center with the Florida Forest Service, has worked on more than a dozen state forests during his 28-year career. Since joining Waccasassa in 2004, he has helped increase breeding pairs of red-cockaded woodpeckers at Goethe State Forest from about 30-40 to over 80 pairs. This contributed to the species being downlisted from federally endangered to threatened in fall 2024. Pedersen has also played a role in conserving the Etoniah rosemary plant by expanding its populations. In addition to traditional management techniques, he earned his drone pilot license in 2024 to support conservation monitoring.
“Charlie Pedersen is exactly the kind of professional the Florida Forest Service is built on. He delivers results by combining decades of experience in the field with a willingness to use new tools and technology to do the job better,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “From improving forest conditions to supporting the recovery of key species, Charlie’s work at the Waccasassa Forestry Center reflects our focus on practical, science-based forestry that keeps Florida’s forests healthy, productive, and well managed.”
Matthew Koenig serves as Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist III for FWC’s Southwest Wildlife and Habitat Management Section/Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. He leads management efforts for several wildlife areas and supports outreach programs at Chinsegut Conservation Center. Koenig focuses on maintaining habitats through prescribed fire—his main tool since 2016—which benefits native wildlife such as Bachman’s sparrows, bald eagles, and gopher tortoises.
“Matt is the perfect choice for winning this honorable award,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “His expertise, dedication, and leadership have all been instrumental to the significant improvements made to wildlife habitat in the WEAs he manages — no small feat considering the challenges of managing three different public lands. We’re very lucky to have him both as part of the FWC team and as a strong steward of Florida’s natural resources.”
Koenig also led storm clean-up after hurricanes in 2024 and works to protect endangered plants found only in limited locations.
The Resource Manager of the Year Award honors James A. Stevenson for his contributions to modern conservation practices within DEP’s Division of State Lands.
