The SWS Awards Program honors individuals and/or institutions that have demonstrated outstanding innovation and dedication to wetland research and management and service to the Society. The recipients provide an example of dedicated commitment to the field of wetland ecology and management and protection of a valuable resource. The following awards will be presented at the Society's Annual Meeting in Québec City, Canada, August 2000.

This month's International Column is by Orlando Rivera, an Environmental Administrator in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Mine Reclamation. Before joining the staff at DEP, Orlando worked for the U.S. government as a wildlife technician performing wildlife surveys of the endangered Puerto Rican parrot and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. A native of Puerto Rico, he earned a B.S. in Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, and he also holds a Master's degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Environmental Management from Florida State University. He is certified by the Society of Wetlands Scientists as a Professional Wetland Scientist and by the Wildlife Society as a Certified Wildlife Biologist. If you are interested in more information, contact Orlando at Orlando.Rivera@Dep.State.Fl or at 850 413-8192, extension 60.