ARLINGTON, VA --U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell recognized Nancy Bell, The Conservation Fund's New Hampshire and Vermont State Director, with the 2015 Chief's Honor Award for Conserving Open Space. The Chief's Honor Award is the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) premier award that distinguishes the outstanding accomplishments and partners that contribute to the USFS's strategic goals.
Bell received the Chief's Award for her decades of work conserving significant landscapes in the Northern Forest and adjacent to Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Specifically, Bell, together with White Mountain National Forest Supervisor Thomas G. Wagner, District Ranger Katherine Stuart and Lands Program Manager Craig Young were nominated for their work in protecting and adding nearly 4,800 acres to the Appalachian Trail in Success Township, New Hampshire, adjacent to the White Mountain National Forest in the Mahoosuc Range. Part of a multi-phase effort conserving over 30,000 contiguous acres, this project—made possible with funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund—protects important natural resources and wildlife habitat, while ensuring working forests, public access and sustainable economic opportunities in northern New Hampshire.
"During Nancy Bell's career with The Conservation Fund, she has been a conservation activist, constantly working across boundaries and providing significant contributions to the protection of scenic and treasured landscapes in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine," said Thomas G. Wagner, Forest Supervisor of the White Mountain National Forest. "Her innovation, creativity and dedication have made an exceptional impact in people's lives, our natural environment and the landscape of the Northeast, and we thank her."
"We deeply appreciate this high honor from the U.S. Forest Service for one of our most accomplished leaders at The Conservation Fund," said Larry Selzer President and CEO of the Fund. "Nancy Bell exemplifies all the qualities we value: a passion for nature; dedication to protecting large landscapes; collaborating closely with partners, communities and citizens; and the practical knowledge of how to get things done. We are gratified by this well-deserved recognition of Nancy's remarkable achievements together with the exceptional team at White Mountain National Forest."
Fueled by a passion for landscape conservation, particularly for wildlife habitat, Bell has built unique partnerships to conserve approximately 500,000 acres across northern New England during her twenty-plus-year career with The Conservation Fund. In partnership with local communities and numerous organizations including the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, state and local governments, sportsmen's groups, individual landowners, timber companies and the Mahoosuc Initiative—a collaborative between the Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Androscoggin Valley Watershed Council, land trusts, Chambers of Commerce and other economic interests—Nancy has found common ground and created conservation solutions that support a healthy environment and vibrant economy and protect natural resources and public access.
"For decades, Nancy Bell has led critical conservation efforts to help protect thousands of acres of forestlands and wildlife habitats in New Hampshire," said U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen. "I applaud Nancy, as well as the other nominees, Thomas Wagner, Katherine Stuart and Craig Young, for their dedication to the preservation of New Hampshire's beautiful landscape that all Granite Staters will enjoy for years to come."
"I am proud to congratulate Nancy Bell on this well-deserved award," said U.S. Senator Kelly Ann Ayott. "Preserving and protecting New Hampshire's pristine and beautiful landscapes is critically important to not only our state's economy, but also our way of life. I am deeply grateful for Nancy's work on behalf of our state."
"I congratulate Nancy Bell on receiving the 2015 Chief's Honor Award and for her decades of work protecting New Hampshire's conservation lands," said U.S. Representative Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02). "Bell's advocacy to protect New Hampshire's important natural resources and wildlife habitats is a significant contribution to the Granite State, and this award is a testament to her dedicated efforts at The Conservation Fund."
Bell is motivated by time in the woods and paddling the Northern Forest's lakes and rivers, and she shares her love and passion for the outdoors with local youth. She founded and has directed for 11 years The Settlement Project, a cutting edge children's summer camp that focuses on sense of place, the environment and social responsibility.
About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are re-defining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 7.5 million acres of land. www.conservationfund.org
Contact: Ann Simonelli, The Conservation Fund, 703-908-5809, asimonelli@conservationfund.org
