NEVADA BIOLOGIST HONORED AS “RECOVERY CHAMPION”

Jon Sjoberg, a fisheries biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), is nearly as rare as the fish species whose populations he is helping to recover. He is among only 16 honorees nationwide to be named a “Recovery Champion” by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in April, 2007.

The Recovery Champion award recognizes outstanding contributions of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and other individuals and organizations toward efforts aimed at recovering threatened and endangered species in the United States.

“We’re proud and honored to have a biologist of Jon’s caliber working for NDOW who is dedicated to recovering our native fish species,” said Ken Mayer, NDOW’s director. “Jon has the respect of fellow employees, supervisors, and directors of several western states with whom we share waters; the Recovery Champion award raises Jon’s work, and NDOW’s commitment to wildlife conservation, to a national stage where it belongs,” he continued.

Sjoberg’s work illustrates that today’s effective biologists are more than scientists. They are negotiators, land use planners, ombudsmen, and writers, who are also well-versed in environmental law. One of the important tools Sjoberg has used in species recovery is the Safe Harbor Agreement, an agreement between private landowners and public agencies that promotes the conservation of species while providing the landowner assurances that no additional future regulatory restrictions will be imposed. Sjoberg has also been involved in land acquisitions to benefit species.

Working both in small-scale habitats and large ecosystems, Sjoberg has led the recovery of many native species, including the Railroad Valley springfish, White River springfish, Pahranagat roundtail chub, Big Springs spinedace, and the Moapa dace. Thanks to Sjoberg’s leadership and advocacy, populations of White River spinedace increased from 20 individuals in 1995 to over 2,500 individuals in 2006.

Sjoberg also contributed substantially to the native fishes section of Nevada’s Wildlife Action Plan, aimed at preserving species before they become threatened and endangered.

Sjoberg has worked as the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s Southern Region Supervising Fisheries Biologist since 1991. He began his career with the agency in 1980 after working for U. S. Geological Survey Water Resources and the Bureau of Land Management. Sjoberg has bachelor of science degree in natural resources from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is completing course work toward a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.