2006 Land Heritage Award Presented to Tin Smith
Topsham: Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) has named Tin Smith as recipient of the 2006 Land Heritage Award. Each year MCHT presents the award to an individual, organization, or coalition for exemplary conservation efforts in Maine.
“Tin Smith is truly an outstanding conservationist, and an individual of the highest integrity. His efforts have helped conserve some of Southern Maine’s most treasured landscapes, and have furthered the conservation ethic throughout the entire state,” said Jay Espy, President of MCHT, when presenting the award at the Maine Land Conservation Conference. Among his many accomplishments, Tin was a founding member of the Great Works Regional Land Trust (GWRLT) and has served that organization as a volunteer for 20 years, including 6 years as its President. During his time there, GWRLT has grown into an organization served by two staff members supported by more than 900 active members with stewardship responsibilities for protected lands encompassing 3,400 acres in Wells, the Berwicks, Eliot, and Ogunquit.
Under his leadership, Great Works joined first the Mt. Agamenticus coalition and then the broader Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Initiative and he served as one of the Tri-Chairs of both those successful land conservation efforts.
Tin helped launch the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farm and currently serves as its stewardship coordinator. Paul Dest, the manager of the Reserve, reacted to the news of the award saying, “Tin’s personal commitment to land conservation are reflected in his persistence, optimism, strong work ethic—qualities that have enabled him to be a true conservation leader for our region. We’re so grateful for all of the contributions he has made to our community—and the humble way in which he goes about his work.”
In 1998, Tin spearheaded the creation of the Coastal Mosaic Project at the Reserve, which was a pioneering effort that provided natural resource data, maps, and information to land trusts and other conservation groups to assist in conservation planning. In recent years the Coastal Mosaic Project has evolved into one of Maine’s top-flight GIS centers in Southern Maine. Tin also helped found the Maine Land Trust Network, an education and training resource for land trusts across the state.
At a personal level, Tin is dedicated to caring for the land. A resident of Wells, he is an active organic farmer and works on behalf of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association certifying organic farms and sharing his in depth knowledge of organic farming practices.
