None The Nature Conservancy in New York Press Releases Search All Press Releases Sharon Pickett Phone: (914)244-3271 ext. 27 Email: spickett@tnc.org

The Nature Conservancy Announces Stewardship Award

Henri Plant of Scotia Honored

Albany, NY — January 30, 2007 — Each year the Eastern New York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy presents the David Van Wie Stewardship Award to recognize outstanding efforts in significantly advancing the science and stewardship program of the Chapter. This award is given in memory of David Van Wie who, while facing a terminal illness, so generously donated his time and energy to the Chapter’s stewardship program.

This year, recognition has been given to Mr. Henri Plant of Scotia, who has given so generously of his time and resources at the Christman Nature Preserve in Duanesburg, a retreat near and dear to his heart.

Starting in 1954, long before the Eastern New York Chapter owned the Christman Preserve, Mr. Plant became a volunteer land steward assisting with trail maintenance on lands owned by the Christman Family. This land has long been used by the Mohawk Valley Hiking Club, who sponsors a Thanksgiving Breakfast at the Preserve, a tradition that started in the 1930s and continues today. Once the preserve was purchased by The Nature Conservancy, Henri quickly stepped forward as a volunteer land steward.

Henri has also actively pursued stewardship improvement such as bridges, handrails, boardwalks, trail markings, and educational signage. Even today, with Henri in his 80’s, he remains actively involved with the stewardship activities of the Christman Preserve. These activities include patrolling the land, organizing work days, laying gravel to improve the parking area, recruiting an additional volunteer land steward, leading Nature Conservancy member hikes, and helping with the kiosk display. Over the years, Henri has committed thousands of volunteer work hours to improve visitor access and appreciation of the Christman Preserve. Recently, Henri recently presented The Nature Conservancy with a generous endowment in memory of his beloved wife Doris. This endowment will allow the Conservancy to continue the careful stewardship of the Preserve and provide funds for the future acquisition of additional acreage.

In accepting the award, Mr. Plant said "My work at the Christman Preserve has been no self sacrifice but rather a labor of love. Much of the credit needs to go to the Mohawk Valley Hiking Club - they were instrumental in helping to protect this special gem. While environmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy are often shifting their focus to issues such as species diversity and global climate change, I am gratified to know that attention and respect are still being paid to these important natural areas. Christman Preserve and I are a natural fit. I hope others feel as I do; that we need to get out and see these places to restore our sanity."

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to protect the most ecologically important lands and waters around the world for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.