President Theodore Roosevelt is credited with the founding of America鈥檚 National Park system, and making land conservation a core American value. Every year, 约炮视频 Florida recognizes a conservationist who has made significant contributions to conservation in Florida.
This year鈥檚 2021 Teddy Roosevelt Award winner is Eric Draper for a career of leadership on behalf of Florida鈥檚 environment. Draper will retire at the end of 2021 as head of the Florida Park Service where he oversaw the addition of iconic new parks ranging from Gilchrist Springs to the Bluffs of St. Teresa. Previously, he served as Executive Director and Policy Director for 约炮视频 Florida, with accomplishments for Everglades restoration, water resource protection, land conservation, and more.
Biography
Eric Draper has served as the Director of the Florida Park Service since 2017. Under his leadership, Florida State Parks became the first four-time winner of the National Recreation and Parks Association鈥檚 Gold Medal for Excellence. Florida鈥檚 175 state parks and trails and 1,000 employees each year provide more than 32 million unique visitor experiences on more than 800,000 acres of the state鈥檚 best managed conservation land, while also generating more than $3 billion in annual economic value.
Draper has devoted his life to conservation, having previously served as the President of the Florida 约炮视频 Society, Senior Vice President for Policy for the 约炮视频, the Florida House of Representatives Majority Office staff director, and The Nature Conservancy鈥檚 Florida government relations director.
During his 35-year conservation career and prior joining the park service, Draper was a leading advocate for water and land conservation and Everglades restoration. He is credited with helping secure billions in new conservation and restoration spending and playing a role in most state environmental policy decisions.