[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 4254-4255]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO BOB KLEIN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the more than 
three decades of contributions by Bob Klein, one of the greatest 
conservationists in Vermont history, on the occasion of his retirement 
after 35 years as State Director of the Vermont Nature Conservancy.

[[Page 4255]]

  Bob Klein is the founding Director of the Vermont Nature Conservancy, 
and under his guidance, its mission has been to protect Vermont's 
unique and rare landscapes, important wildlife habitat and 
biodiversity. Parcels are selected for their natural attributes, not 
necessarily for size, and in total, the Vermont Nature Conservancy has 
helped to conserve an incredible 188,000 acres during Bob's tenure. I 
followed his example, and one of my priorities through my work in the 
Senate has been to add approximately 200,000 acres to the Green 
Mountain National Forest. Bob has accomplished this scale of 
conservation within the framework of a relatively small private 
organization.
  The Vermont Nature Conservancy has transferred most of the conserved 
land to the State and other land managers, while retaining ownership of 
the gems, to ensure their careful stewardship. These parcels included 
55 natural areas dispersed across the State and open to visitors and 
naturalists. Bob has guided the Nature Conservancy in protecting 
forever iconic Vermont landscapes such as Camel's Hump, Hunger 
Mountain, Shelburne Pond, Alburgh Dunes, the Maidstone Bends of the 
Connecticut River and the Green River Reservoir.
  Bob's contributions to conservation go well beyond lands that the 
Nature Conservancy has purchased. His leadership within the State was 
instrumental in the 132,000 acre Champion Lands conservation project 
when he helped bring together the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
Vermont legislature and multiple private partners. At the Nature 
Conservancy, Bob has carefully assembled a team of conservation 
biologists, geographers and naturalists whose work has transformed 
conservation thought and practice. Vermont State agencies, recreational 
trails organizations, Federal agencies and private developers look 
first to the Nature Conservancy when seeking a better understanding of 
Vermont's ecosystems and how to protect them.
  Other Nature Conservancy Chapters across the United States have been 
modeled on the Vermont office that Bob created. Bob's patient, generous 
and kind work with members and the general public is reflected in the 
fact that the Vermont has, by far, the highest per-capita Nature 
Conservancy membership of any State. I have often looked to Bob for 
advice on national conservation policy and he has led national Nature 
Conservancy visits to Washington, D.C.
  Bob is retiring as the State Director of the Vermont Nature 
Conservancy but I know that he will continue to pursue his passions of 
botany, photography and exploration of nature. Bob's photographs have 
graced national publications and gallery walls. I will continue to look 
to Bob as an advisor on conservation policy and wish him all the best 
as he begins this new chapter.

                          ____________________