Congratulations to Margaret E. Fisher, recipient of a 2025 Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Award

These Awards are presented annually to recognize county residents, county employees, businesses and organizations who have dedicated their time and expertise to preserving the health and beauty of Fairfax County’s natural resources. The Environmental Quality Advisory Council administers the Awards, with support from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC). A committee of the council selects awardees from a pool of nominations.

Margaret was recognized this October for her work as an advocate for habitat restoration and biodiversity, for her property-based and community-wide initiatives promoting wildlife sanctuaries, native plants, and pesticide-free practices as part of the Plant NOVA Natives campaign. One effort that Margaret has been involved with the development of a “Week of Action,” brought people from across Fairfax County together to rescue trees from invasive vines just last week. This was the official launch of Fairfax Tree Rescuers PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management), a community-wide initiative to save our trees and natural areas from the invasive plants that are smothering and strangling them. Two events were scheduled in the Clifton area, at the old Clifton Elementary School and at Pohick Library. Check in on the Fairfax PRISM website (www.fairfaxprism.org/upcoming-events) to watch for future events and learn about other ways you can help or ways you can get help with this work.

A key to the success of this effort will be to have a Community Representative in every neighborhood, relaying information to the residents about the invasive plant problem and how to control it. Those representatives can also get together in each town to strategize about how to deal with the worst of the invasive infestations in the area. If you are interested in helping, contact fairfaxprism@fairfaxprism.org.

So well deserved, Margaret! Congratulations!