1. a. The Department of Environmental Protection , in coordination with any agricultural or wildlife organization as determined appropriate by the department, shall establish and promote an award program to be known as the New Jersey “Landowner of the Year” award program.

The program shall annually recognize a landowner who has demonstrated an outstanding record of improving, enhancing, and preserving wildlife populations and habitat on the landowner’s property.

b. The Department of Environmental Protection shall establish, in consultation with appropriate wildlife organizations, an application procedure, criteria, and guidelines for the eligibility, nomination, and judging of applicants for the award. The criteria may include, but need not be limited to, outstanding practices in wildlife management, habitat improvement, and conservation techniques.

c. The Department of Environmental Protection shall post the name of the recipient of the New Jersey “Landowner of the Year” award prominently on the department’s website, and shall recognize the recipient with a certificate, a press announcement, or other form of recognition deemed appropriate by the department to highlight the achievement of the recipient.

L.2019, c.461, s.1.