SEQUIM — Activist and Sequim resident Bob Lynette has been honored for his support of conservation efforts in the state to protect wilderness and wild and scenic rivers.
Lynette was among three recipients of annual conservation awards at Washington Wild’s “Wild Night Out” fundraiser last month.
Lynette was awarded the Karen M. Fant Founders Award, given each year to a local volunteer activist who has distinguished themselves by their efforts to protect wild places in Washington.
Lynette is a founding member of the Wild Olympics Campaign and has worked with Washington Wild as a member of the Wild Olympics Campaign throughout the past eight years to build local support for new wilderness river protections on the Olympic Peninsula, particularly in Clallam County.
“His past efforts supporting clean and renewable energy and his recent efforts supporting the permanent protection of wild lands and waters have distinguished him as an exceptional local advocate,” Washington Wild officials said.
Other honorees included Daniel J. Evans, former governor and U.S. senator, and Leavenworth Brewery owner Pamela Brulotte.
Evans was presented with the Conservation Voices Award, given each year to an individual who has lent their voice as a compelling messenger in support of protecting Washington’s wild lands and waters.
Evans has been a lifelong wilderness champion and played a major role in the creation of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, expansion of the Olympic National Park coastline, passage of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act that protected more than 1 million acres of national forest and the 1988 Washington Park Wilderness Act.
Brulotte took home the Washington Wild Brewshed Award for advocating for “permanent protection of clean water, wild places and a natural legacy,” Washington Wild officials said.
The annual event drew about 150 attendees to Seattle, where they helped raise more than $60,000 to support wild places.
Washington Wild is a member-based nonprofit organization that has played a role in permanently protecting nearly 3 million acres of wilderness. For more information, see www.wawild.org.
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The Olympic Peninsula News Group is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum.