Maine Coast Heritage Trust has named Barbara Vickery as recipient of the 2017 Espy Land Heritage Award. Each year MCHT presents the award to an individual, organization, or coalition for exemplary conservation efforts in Maine. The award was presented over the weekend at the annual Maine Land Conservation Conference held at the Mt. Ararat Middle School and Orion Performing Arts Center.

“Barbara Vickery set the gold standard for using science to inform conservation work in Maine. Her passion and dedication — in particular to forest conservation — have had an incredibly positive impact on our state’s natural landscapes and local economies,” MCHT President Tim Glidden said upon presenting the award. “Her inclusive approach with businesses, government and other community stakeholders assure that her many conservation project successes will stand the test of time.”

Vickery, who recently retired after a 33- year career at the Maine chapter of the Nature Conservancy, played a role in several high profile conservation projects and initiatives throughout Maine.

According to a press release: “As a critical driver for developing Maine’s Beginning With Habitat program, Barbara has ensured that science is an integral part of the state’s conservation decisions made by land trusts and federal, state and local agencies. Barbara was also a key behind the scenes leader of the Maine Forest Biodiversity Project which resulted in better understanding and cooperative relationships among Maine’s commercial forest land owners, state managers and fisheries and wildlife biologists. The project helped lay the groundwork for the creation of Maine’s Ecological Reserve system which protects important ecosystems throughout the state.

“Barbara’s involvement in land conservation spanned the entire range of Maine, from Mt. Agamenticus in the south, to the St. John River in the north, to Cobscook Bay in the east and the Saco River in the west. All told, the projects she was involved with throughout her career totaled more than 1 million acres of land conservation in Maine.”

In honoring past President Jay Espy with this award, the board of directors at MCHT created a fund that awards $5,000 per year, with the winner able to direct the funds to the conservation charity of their choice. Vickery chose to allocate her funds to the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust’s environmental education program.

In explaining her choice of fund recipient, Vickery said it was important to connect young people to the natural world through experiences with those who are passionate about nature and sharing their knowledge and by getting kids outside getting up close and personal with nature.

“The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is doing awesome environmental education work and I know the kids are getting their hands and feet muddy,” Vickery said. “I hope the kids will feel connected to the estuary that is their home.”