
A Field & Stream Hero of Conservation is someone who spends his or her own time working to create, improve, or restore fish and wildlife or habitat. A Hero is dedicated to the spirit of conservation volunteerism and stands out among other volunteers. Some heroes are members of conservation organizations involved with dedicated efforts to benefit a particular species or area. Others are simply individuals who take it upon themselves to improve habitat where they live. No project is too small, but the public should be able to benefit from the endeavor, and there should be a clear tie to hunting and/or fishing. If you know of a potential Hero or are one yourself, tell us by completing a nomination form.

2012 marks the seventh year of our annual Heroes of Conservation program. In October, David Ramsey of Unicoi, Tennessee, took top honors as the 2011 Conservation Hero of the Year for his work protecting the critical Appalachian habitat of the 10,000-acre Rocky Fork Watershed. Who will win this year and drive away with a new Toyota Tundra? Stay tuned for more information - including videos - of this year's finalists. You'll be able to watch them right here at fieldandstream.com/heroes. For the 2011/2012 year, we're looking for nominations of an individual or professional who is involved in a conservation effort. No project is too small, but it must be hunting or fishing related, well under-way or completed. If you or someone you know is working on a conservation project, we want to reward those efforts. All nominees are eligible for the grand prize and runner up prizes, which will be announced in October 2012.

From defending at-risk habitat and wildlife food sources to creating opportunities for youths to enjoy the outdoors, these Heroes are taking action. Listen to their stories, and check back for a new video every week until October.

by Bob Marshall
Sportsmen's groups got some new ammunition in their fight against the energy industry's push to open more public fish and wildlife habitat to development: A new Department of Interior report shows that 70 percent of public areas under lease by energy companies currently are "inactive" - meaning they are neither producing energy or part of an approved or pending development plans.
This helps put the lie to claims by energy's friends in Congress that public lands "locked up" for fish and wildlife are creating a supply problem causing high gas prices.