State Forester Gene Kodama to receive SAF’s Gifford Pinchot Medal
June 12, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina State Forester Gene Kodama has been selected to receive the Society of American Foresters’ Gifford Pinchot Medal. One of the most esteemed forestry awards in the nation, the medal is presented every two years to a forestry professional in recognition of exceptional contributions to the administration, practice and development of forestry in North America.
Nominees for the Gifford Pinchot Medal must have demonstrated exemplary actions that further the field of forestry by making an indelible mark on the profession and being a person of action.
Endorsements for Kodama’s nomination came from multiple state, national and international leaders in forestry and the forest products industries who pointed out a variety of contributions. Kathy Abusow, president and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, wrote in her testimonial, “Gene led the South Carolina Forestry Commission to third-party certification of its five state forests to both the SFI Standard and the American Tree Farm Standard, highlighting that state forests are responsibly managed. By advancing the cause of forest certification, Gene has added to South Carolina’s reputation as a sustainability leader in the global marketplace.”
SAF will present the Gifford Pinchot Medal to Kodama at its national convention in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, Nov. 4.
