Tyler Dula, Conservation Technical Assistant for the Manistee Conservation District, named Technician of the Year through the Michigan Conservation District Employee Organization.
BEAR LAKE – In his third year as a Conservation Technical Assistant in the Manistee Conservation District, Tyler Dula has already gained statewide recognition.
At the Michigan Conservation Districts Association Summer Conference in June, Dula was named Technique of the Year through Michigan Conservation District Employees.
“It’s definitely a big recognition,” Dula said. . . . It shows that everything I have learned in the last 3 years is paying off. I think we’re doing wonderful things in Manistee County. “
The Technician of the Year award is reserved for “a technician who has demonstrated exemplary service and technical merit,” according to the Michigan Conservation District worker website.
“I was then informed that my workplace staff had submitted me for this award,” he said. we essentially decided who had the biggest impact. “
Dula said he did not intend to devote himself to conservation and grew up before becoming a police officer.
“As I was talking to police officers, they told me, ‘Do a primary in anything other than corrupt justice,’ and I’ve enjoyed the outdoors, so I made the decision to specialize in controlling herbal resources,” he said. “Then I fell in love with the clinical side and wildlife control. I kind of followed that career path. “
After earning a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University, Dula accepted a position in Huron Pines’ AmeriCorps program in Gaylord, where he worked as a habitat recovery technician.
“I set foot in habitat control and recovery through this program,” Dula said. “After that, I worked temporarily for the (Ministry of Natural Resources) and then in October 2019 I accepted this position within the Manistee Conservation District. “
In her current role, Dula works with landowners who want to implement conservation practices on their land.
“I’m going to arrange a tour of the site with them and somehow take their total assets into context when we’re there. My main goal is to identify the resource disruptions I see visually in the assets and expand a conservation plan for that landowner,” Dula said. “Essentially, I’ll highlight the disorders and what they can do with those disorders to resolve those resource disorders. They get a conservation plan, they get the technical data on how to proceed.
“Then, if they’re interested, they can submit a cost-sharing request through the (Natural Resources Conservation Service) to put those practices into effect. “
Dula quickly thanked his colleagues in the Manistee Conservation District for helping him be the technician he is today.
“I feel like we have a very smart team here in the Manistee Conservation District,” he said. “Others report to us and, having been here since 2019, I have gained a great experience. “