Shane Mahoney wins AFWA Lifetime Achievement Award

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies has given Conservation Visions CEO Shane Mahoney its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award for more than four decades of leadership in wildlife conservation, science and public policy. The honor spotlights his influence on conservation policy across North America and his work on sustainable use and One Health.

Why it matters: - The award recognizes a conservation leader whose work has helped shape wildlife policy, institutions and public debate across North America. - AFWA highlighted Mahoney’s influence on One Health, sustainable use and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. - The recognition underscores how non-governmental conservation voices can affect state, provincial and territorial wildlife policy.

What happened: - The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies gave Shane Mahoney its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award on Sept. 16 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. - Mahoney is president and CEO of Conservation Visions Inc. - AFWA honored Mahoney for more than 40 years of leadership in wildlife conservation, science and public policy. - Ron Regan, AFWA’s executive director, praised Mahoney’s long-term impact on fish and wildlife conservation in North America and internationally.

The details: - Mahoney spent 35 years with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. - His public-sector career ranged from field research to senior executive leadership in wildlife, science and sustainable development. - He later founded Conservation Visions, described as a social enterprise and environmental think-tank. - His work has extended across Canada, the United States and internationally. - AFWA represents North America’s state, provincial and territorial fish and wildlife agencies. - The award honors a conservation partner from a non-governmental organization for long-standing contributions to conservation and to AFWA’s mission. - Mahoney has written more than 50 scientific papers and numerous book chapters. - He founded the Wild Harvest Initiative® in 2015 to study the food, economic, social and ecological benefits of sustainable wild harvest activities, including hunting and fishing. - Mahoney has been a prominent voice on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, public-trust wildlife management and sustainable use.

Between the lines: - The award reflects a broader emphasis within wildlife management on connecting conservation policy with human, animal and environmental health. - Mahoney’s career shows how one long-tenured policy voice can shape both technical science and public-facing conservation arguments. - The recognition also validates the role of sustainable use as a mainstream conservation issue, not just a niche debate.

What's next: - Mahoney’s work on conservation policy, sustainable use and One Health is likely to remain part of North American wildlife debates. - The Wild Harvest Initiative® will continue to frame the benefits of hunting and fishing in food, economic, social and ecological terms. - AFWA will keep using the award to spotlight outside partners who advance wildlife conservation and agency priorities.

The bottom line: - AFWA’s Lifetime Achievement Award puts a national spotlight on a Newfoundland-based conservation leader whose influence stretches far beyond Canada.