The NAA awards the George B. Fell Lifetime Achievement Award to an individual who exhibits the highest qualities of the profession and who has significantly advanced natural area identification, protection, stewardship or research, and the mission of the NAA. This is the Association's highest award, and it is reserved for exceptional achievements in any of the areas in which the Natural Areas Association is concerned. It is a top-of-career award. 

This award is given in honor of George B. Fell, a founder of The Nature Conservancy and the Natural Land Institute and a founding NAA member and officer who dedicated his life to the protection of Natural Areas.  While the director of the Natural Land Institute, George provided leadership in initiating the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, creating the Illinois Nature Preserves System, and developing the first Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Species (each, the first of its kind state effort and program in the nation).  In addition to innovation, George understood and valued that the protection of these resources also required perseverance in perpetuity.

This award recognizes:

• Qualities exhibited by George B. Fell such as life-long dedication and commitment, creativity, and the ability to forge new approaches that significantly advance natural area protection.
  
• Sustained or on-going individual achievement in the natural area profession.
  
• Accomplishments that have significantly advanced natural area identification, protection, stewardship or research, and the mission of the NAA.
  
• Any area of professional activity.