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Rockies Honors Conservation Champion
Alice Madden Honored for Environmental Accomplishments in Colorado
Maggie Fox Award recipient Alice Madden. Photo by NWF
On March 22, 2016, the National Wildlife Federation and guests gathered at the Alliance Center for Sustainable Colorado in Denver, Colorado to honor Alice Madden for her contributions and achievements in the environmental field. Her contributions in reducing carbon emissions, promoting clean energy, and protecting wildlife and their habitats from the risks posed by climate has made her a recipient of the Maggie Fox award, so named for the first recipient of the award in 2015, given to women that have shown exceptional leadership, time and dedication in conservation and climate action.
As temperatures continue to rise, Colorado has begun to experience some of the impacts involved with climate change. Pests like ticks are becoming more abundant and are negatively impacting moose, and mountain pine beetles are ravaging huge swaths of Colorado forests. The work Alice and other conservation leaders are doing in climate action is essential as Colorado continues to deal with the impacts of climate change.
“Alice Madden is a true asset to the conservation community. Her passion for climate action has moved Colorado in the right direction as we work to combat climate change,” said Brian Kurzel, regional executive director of NWF’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center. “We at the National Wildlife Federation believe that highlighting and bringing women into the environmental story is important to reach the common goal of protecting all people, communities, landscapes and our precious wildlife from the impacts of climate change.”
Alice Madden follows in the footsteps of many strong women who have had significant roles in the conservation movement. Rachel Carson, most famously known for her book Silent Spring, brought the environmental movement to the mainstream in the 1960s and captured the attention of Americans nationwide. Present-day environmental leader Gina McCarthy, the current Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has taken necessary steps forward in protecting both people and wildlife from the effects of climate change by proposing the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, a standard to reduce industrial carbon pollution.
“Women are an essential part of the environmental community. Past studies have shown that countries with a more equal number of female leaders are more likely to pass environmental legislation,” said Kurzel. “Not only that, right now women are the fastest-growing hunting and angling demographic in the country. It only makes sense that these women be represented in high and vital positions within the field.”
In honor of Women’s History Month this March, NWF recognized top female environmental leaders that have played essential roles in the conservation movement. Alice’s contributions to the environmental field, her efforts to combat climate change, and protect wildlife for future generations to enjoy landed her a top distinction within the organization. Alice Madden plans to continue her work in conservation and looks forward to Colorado’s full implementation of the Clean Power Plan.
