The West Central Regional V-P of NAS, Ron Klataske, dedicated to preserving unique land and wildlife resources in the Great Plains and prairie states for the last quarter century, has been named one of this year's Chevron Conservation Award winners. Mr. Klataske received one of 5 professional conservationist awards presented by the nation's oldest and most prestigious conservation awards program.

For more than four decades, the Chevron Conservation Awards have paid tribute to the environmental accomplishments of organizations, professionals and volunteers. Ron's ability to build support among community and government representatives, landowners and conservationists alike has helped win over strong opposition to local environmental initiatives.

He successfully led efforts to defeat a dam and diversion plan that would have virtually destroyed the Platte River in Central NE. He also worked to win landowner and national support to protect NE's Niobrara River as the first national scenic river in the Great Plains, designated by Congress in 1991.

"For nearly three decades, Ron Klataske has been the most consistent leader in the effort to establish the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve as a unit of the National Park System," boasted fellow conservationist Joyce Wolf. "His perseverance paid off in October '96 when Congress passed legislation establishing the 10,890-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills of Kansas."

Ron also spearheaded Audubon's land acquisition plan and established a 1200-acre NAS wildlife sanctuary (Rowe Sanctuary) on the Platte River near Kearney, NE and a 208-acre sanctuary along the Niobrara River.

As a ranch and farm landowner himself, Ron is demonstrating his commitment to conservation by reestablishing native prairie grasses and wildflowers, planting trees and shrubs to protect stream banks and for wildlife habitat on 150 acres of previously plowed land. As part of a Partners For Wildlife project he has fenced forested riparian areas to exclude grazing and is establishing wetlands areas. He and his wife Carol also placed a conservation easement on native prairie pastureland they own. Theirs was the first conservation easement filed in Riley County.

Klataske has degrees in wildlife biology from Kansas State U. and the U. of Maine. The presence of Audubon at the local and state level in the Midwest has grown markedly since 1970 when he opened the Society's West Central Office. He attributes his conservation successes to the support and dedication of many other people working together in partnership.

The Chevron Conservation Awards were presented in September at a reception in honor of Ron Klataske and other winners' environmental endeavors.

Created by the late Ed Zern, a nationally recognized sportsman, humorist and author, the Chevron Conservation Awards were designed to seek out and honor individuals and groups who protect and enhance renewable resources.

For More Info, Contact: Sara Dau or Kathleen Lunny Kamer at Singer & Associates, Inc., for Chevron Corporation; ph: 415/512-6800.