New Haven, Conn., April 20, 2009—The Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) presented Frances Beinecke ’71, ’74 M.F.S., president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, with the inaugural Aldo Leopold Award on Friday, April 24th.

The award, established this year to honor the late Aldo Leopold and the centennial of his graduation from F&ES, recognizes individuals whose exceptional contributions in the protection of the environment, in the stewardship of “the land” as Leopold envisioned it, or in scholarship or writing in environmental ethics, ecology or a related field serve as a model to others as well as inspiration for future generations. Leopold was an educator, philosopher, forester, ecologist and wilderness advocate most widely known as the author of A Sand County Almanac, a landmark book that energized the American conservation movement and stimulated the new field of environmental ethics.

Frances has spent over 30 years with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Under her visionary leadership as president, and before that as executive director, the Council intensified its efforts to curb global warming, promote clean energy initiatives, revive the world’s oceans, save endangered wild habitats and stem the proliferation of toxic chemicals. In recent years she has emerged as one of America’s foremost environmental leaders and spokespersons.

In addition to her work at NRDC, Frances has played a leadership role in other environmental organizations. She currently serves on the boards of the World Resources Institute, the Energy Future Coalition and Conservation International’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Business and is on the steering committee of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. She has been a leader on the boards of the Wilderness Society, the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development and the New York League of Conservation Voters. Frances’ dedication to the environment has earned her recognition from different fronts. She is the recipient of the Rachel Carson Award from the National Audubon Society, the Annual Conservation Award from the Adirondack Council and the Robert Marshall Award from the Wilderness Society.

Frances will receive the Aldo Leopold Award at a presentation ceremony held on Friday, April 24, at the Ordway Learning Center (Ground Floor) at Kroon Hall, 195 Prospect St., at 4:30 p.m.