Robyn King2019Connecting, restoring, and protecting the Yaak Valley’s lowland temperate rainforests through collaboration is the Yaak Valley Forest Council (YVFC) mission and that of its dynamic leader, Robyn King. A thirty plus year resident of the Yaak Valley, Robyn helped organize YVFC and now manages its community-based programs: a forest health monitoring effort, a partnership endeavor restoring the Yaak watershed, and conservation education outreach/engagement. As Executive Director, she coordinates several collaborative groups in the region---Three Rivers Challenge, the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Coalition (KFSC), the Kootenai Initiative, and the Lincoln County Resource Advisory Council (LCRAC) currently chairing the KFSC. Robyn believes the most effective conservation strategy is one grounded in common ground dialogue, sound science, and a strong boots-on-the-ground presence in rural communities. She is a passionate believer in collaboration, and community building, embracing the challenges of regional politics, isolation, and economics. Robyn calls her collaborative work “democracy in action” and attributes YVFC’s success to “persistence and continuing to show up.”  It is that and more. Robyn and her team have an authentic concern for the social and ecological well-being of the region and an instinctual understanding of how to connect with people despite divergent views. Wilburforce has partnered with Robyn and YVFC since 2002 and is proud to present Robyn with its Conservation Leadership Award.

All bios are from the year the award was presented.