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Natural Resources Council of Maine

Protecting the Nature of Maine

Conservation Leadership Awards

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NRCM Conservation Leadership Awards

Maine is known and loved for its beautiful lands, lakes, rivers, and coastline—and we owe a lot to the individuals who have helped protect these natural resources. Each year, the Natural Resources Council of Maine recognizes several of those who have made significant, lasting contributions to safeguarding Maine's environment by presenting them with a Conservation Leadership Award. As part of our Conservation Leadership Awards, we include an award that is given to a person or people who are nominated and voted on by NRCM members and the public, our People's Choice Award.

2022 Conservation Leadership Award winners

2022 Conservation Leadership Award recipients with Pete Didisheim and NRCM Board Chair Ed Simmons. Front row, left to right: Ted O'Meara of Frenchman Bay United; Julie Rosenbach; Dr. Robin Hadlock Seeley; Dr. Steve Kress; Troy Moon. Back row left to right: Pete Didisheim; Kathleen Rybarz, James Paterson, Jackie Weaver (Frenchman Bay United); Bill Lippincott, Ed Spencer, and Cheryl Spencer of Don't Waste ME; Ed Simmons

NRCM's 2022 Conservation Leadership Awards were presented to the following individuals and groups—click on their name to read the award citation presented by NRCM staff.

Dr. Steve Kress, Lifetime Achievement, for his pioneering work restoring and managing breeding colonies of Atlantic Puffins and other seabird species, in Maine and around the world, and for raising awareness about conservation and current threats to the world’s ecosystems.

Frenchman Bay United, Conservation Leadership Award, for leading the campaign in opposition to an industrial fish farm in Frenchman Bay that would pose a serious threat to the environment, surrounding communities, and fishing families. (Read remarks by Ted O'Meara on behalf of FBU.)

Troy Moon and Julie Rosenbach, Conservation Leadership Award, for leading sustainability efforts in Portland and South Portland, including development of “One Climate Future,” a comprehensive climate and sustainability plan for both cities, one of the most ambitious local climate plans in the country.

Dr. Robin Hadlock Seeley, Conservation Leadership Award, for her work to ensure the protection of rockweed, a keystone species found on the Maine coast, and her leadership in the successful effort to ban industrial mining in Pembroke. (Read Robin's remarks.)

This year’s People’s Choice Award recipient is Don’t Waste ME of Old Town, for advocating for policies that protect communities most at risk from the negative impacts of waste facilities, including their recent work to close the out-of-state waste loophole in Maine law.

Read Senior Director of Advocacy and Interim CEO Pete Didisheim's remarks from our 2022 Conservation Leadership Awards.

View photos from the evening; watch an Instagram video featuring highlights, and listen to our Frontline Voices podcast, which focuses on the 2022 awardees.

Past Conservation Leadership Awards

NRCM Conservation Leadership (formerly “Environmental”) Awards from 1987-2010

2010 (click on name of award recipient to watch video of their award presentation)

  • Representative Hannah Pingree, for her extraordinary leadership in passing bold new laws that protect the health of Maine people, environment, and wildlife.
  • Vera Francis, People’s Choice Award, for serving as a leader in a true citizens’ movement in her efforts to protect Passamaquoddy Bay from a proposed LNG terminal.
  • Watch former NRCM board president Bill Houston's welcoming remarks for our 2010 annual meeting, titled, "Natural Leaders"

2009

2008

  • Verrill Dana LLP (Nora Healy and Bill Harwood) and Wiley Rein (Charles O. Verrill), for tireless work and unwavering determination resulting in removal of the Fort Halifax Dam.
  • Dustin Ramsay, for his exceptional efforts in raising environmental awareness throughout your school and to other Maine schools.
  • Elisa Boxer, for her extraordinary efforts in helping to pass the kid-safe products bill during the 2008 legislative session.
  • Willy Ritch, People’s Choice Award, for exceptional leadership in mobilizing the citizens of Wiscasset to defeat plans for a coal gasification facility in their town.

2007

  • Friends of the Presumpscot River, for their tireless efforts in the restoration of the Presumpscot River.
  • Jeff Pidot, Lifetime Achievement
  • Neil McCubbin, for his extraordinary work as a true and honorable advocate for the Androscoggin River
  • Maggie Shannon, People’s Choice Award Winner for her dedication to the work of the Congress of Lake Associations and the inspiration she provides to others

2006

  • Sally Jacobs, for providing extraordinary leadership in the protection of land in the Bangor-Orono region.
  • Dudley Greeley, for his work as an advocate for greener, more energy-efficient buildings.
  • Androscoggin River Alliance, for its unwavering efforts to ensure clean-up of the Androscoggin River.
  • Eric Brown, for starting Gang Green, an environmentally focused group of teachers and students at Lawrence High School. Note: Eric was the winner of our first annual People’s Choice Award. 

2005

  • Adam Lee, for reducing air and greenhouse gas pollution by ensuring that cleaner, more efficient cars are available in Maine.
  • Kent Olsen, for his pivotal role in securing lasting protection for Maine’s special places.
  • Irvin “Buzz” Caverly, for protecting the wilderness character of Baxter State Park.
  • Jenna Shue, for moving the Maine Legislature to address gaps in monitoring and managing emissions from waste-to-energy incinerator plants.

2004

  • Peter Brann and Ben Lund, for their efforts to defend Maine’s environment in the courts
  • Harry Dwyer and Andy Irish, for their contributions to the state’s actions to stop liquidation harvesting of Maine’s forests.

 2003

  • Dan Amory, for his extraordinary efforts to create permanent protections for Maine’s environment
  • BACORD, for its courage and tenacity in the fight to protect Penjajawoc Marsh
  • Kennebec Valley Trout Unlimited, for its relentless advocacy of the Kennebec River system
  • Bob Kimber, who has been a constant voice and strong presence in the ongoing fight to protect wilderness in Maine

2002

  • John Cole, Lifetime Achievement Award, a naturalist, environmental reporter, and long-time crusader for Maine’s waters, wilderness, and wildlife
  • Bill Houston, for his effort to protect wild areas of Maine
  • Evan Richert, for his efforts to restore Maine’s rivers
  • Molly Saunders, advocate for a healthy Androscoggin Lake

2001

  • HELP (Dr. David Adams, Carol Bass, Sue Hammerland DeSmith, and Ed Simmons), for community organizing to clean up Wyman Station
  • Nancy Galland and Richard Stander, for mercury pollution prevention and clean up at HoltraChem in Orrington
  • Steve Keith and Dave Tobey, for protection of the Down East Lakes region
  • Doug Watts, for advocacy of healthy, free-flowing rivers

2000

  • Ed Baum, protecting Maine’s wild Atlantic salmon
  • Sheila Bennett and Linda Koski, protecting the Allagash
  • Paul Blouin, championing Cleaner Car Incentives Pilot Program
  • Jon Eaton, Warren Sanitary District’s pollution of the St. George estuary
  • Chellie Pingree and Steve Rowe, for leadership of the $50 million land bond

1999

  • Jim Glavine, conservation of Maine’s remote forest lands
  • Bart Hague, petitioning the Department of Environmental Protection to reconsider CMP’s permit along the Crooked River
  • Sue Hammerland DeSmith, leading citizen effort to stop pollution from Wyman Station
  • George Neavoll, Community Service Award
  • Bill Townsend, Lifetime Achievement Award

1998

  • Janet McMahon, ecological reserves and biodiversity
  • Ron Kreisman, Edwards Dam
  • Steve Brooke, Edwards Dam
  • Dean Bennett, protecting Allagash Wilderness Waterway
  • Dave Hubley, protecting Allagash Wilderness Waterway
  • Jon Luoma, protecting Allagash Wilderness Waterway

1997

  • Joan Benoit Samuelson, air activist
  • Beverly Paigen, dioxin
  • Garrett and Alexandra Conover, North Woods protection

1996

  • Jane Karker, dioxin-free paper
  • George Nilson, general environmental support
  • Lani Graham and Bob Frakes, public health, mercury, dioxin

1995

  • Edward "Ned" Rendall, general environmental support
  • Jeff Barnum, North Woods, anti-takings
  • Karin Tilberg, general environmental support
  • Joe Kott, responsible transportation and land use
  • Kevin Gildart, anti-takings

1994

  • Reed Coles, general environmental support

1993

  • Nancy Haviland, mining
  • Cherie Mason, champion activist
  • William Jellin, environmentally responsible business
  • Scott Williams, lakes protection

1992

  • Cheryl Barden, solid waste
  • Peter Troast, land bond, socially responsible business, turnpike
  • Bonnie Lounsbury, lawyer/activist

1991

  • Edward Rendall, citizen activist, former BEP
  • Alan Houston – Marine Resource Warden, Brunswick/West Bath

1990

  • Senator George Mitchell
  • Larry Pritchett, Georges River Tidewater Assn. activist
  • Alan Brodie, Quoddy Regional Land Trust

1989

  • Michael Deland, Region I EPA
  • Phyllis Austin, Maine Times
  • Citizens of Yarmouth, local land acquisition bond
  • David Moskovitz, energy planner

1988

  • State Rep. Mike Michaud
  • Portland Working Waterfront Coalition
  • Town of Brunswick Recycling Program

1987

  • Sam Zaitlin, Board of Environmental Protection
  • Beedy Parker, citizen activist
  • Jeanne Hollingsworth, citizen activist
  • Orono Land Trust
  • Spirit of Opposition to US DOE’s high-level radioactive waste dump

 

Banner photo: Fall sunset, Silver Lake, Katahdin Iron Works, by Francesca Galluccio-Steele