High Honor for Nature Conservancy's Dick Mallion

Dick Mallion has earned EPA's Environmental Merit Award

Dick Mallion, on stewardship detail at the Pondicherry Division
of the Sylvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge with a
bouquet of invasive purple loosestrife.
© Beth Goettel / USFWS

Dick Mallion, chair of The Nature Conservancy's volunteer board of trustees in New Hampshire, has earned a prestigious award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Mallion, who lives in Whitefield, received the EPA's Environmental Merit Award for lifetime achievement for his unflagging commitment to conservation. Mallion and other New England winners of the EPA’s award were given the honors on Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day), at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

The merit awards recognize significant contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving. Given out by EPA since 1970, the merit awards honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the region's environment. This year's competition drew dozens of nominations from across New England.

“Our Environmental Merit Awards are among the highest honors EPA can bestow to recognize environmental accomplishments,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA’s New England Office. “I offer my gratitude to these citizens for their extraordinary contributions in protecting our shared environment. Their work reflects the best attributes of New Englanders, working to find solutions to tough environmental issues.”
Among some of the local landmarks that have benefited from Mallion’s stewardship is the N.H. John Wingate Weeks Historic Site atop Mount Prospect in Lancaster. He has served as the association’s trails coordinator and assistant treasurer.

When the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge considered establishing a division near the rich habitat of the Pondicherry area in Whitefield and Jefferson, Mallion was instrumental in mobilizing local support. With others, he helped form the Friends of Pondicherry, a group that continues supporting the refuge in many ways, from grunt work to grassroots politics. As one of New Hampshire’s top birding destinations, the division is now a major benefit to the local communities. And few special places in New Hampshire receive the level of stewardship that Pondicherry does, as Mallion can be found most mornings tramping his way 2 miles down the trail to make sure all is well.

Since 1995, Mallion has been among the most reliable, hardworking volunteers for The Nature Conservancy’s New Hampshire chapter. He has chopped horrendous blowdown off trails at Fourth Connecticut Lake Preserve, built bog bridges at Hurlburt Swamp, and checked on old-growth forests at Norton Pool Preserve. He has motivated many other volunteers with words, energy, good example and pride for the cause of stewardship and conservation. Now, as chair of the chapter’s board of trustees, he motivates those causes at both the small and grand scales in New Hampshire, from Great Bay to the Ashuelot River.

"It is certainly an honor to receive this award, but it really serves to recognize the conservation organizations with which I've been associated over the years," Mallion said. "I've been privileged to serve on Whitefield Conservation Commission and other local conservation groups. The New Hampshire chapter of The Nature Conservancy has been particularly important to me because it does all of the things that I think are important on all scales, from local through global. I'm particularly indebted to a large network of friends and conservation professionals who have patiently taught me enough to be of some small use to the efforts of these organizations and to make me appreciate fully the value of conserving natural resources."

"When Dick Mallion first approached us in the mid-1990s, hoping to volunteer his time and energy, little did we know what a lasting and important difference he would make on our program," said Daryl Burtnett, state director of the New Hampshire chapter. "Now, as chair of the board of trustees for the New Hampshire chapter, Dick makes sure we are not only good stewards of the land, but also of the people … our preserve visitors, our members, our volunteers, our staff, our partners, and the communities where we work. Dick brings priceless wisdom, tireless work and adds to the quality of life in New Hampshire today, and into the future. The Nature Conservancy and New Hampshire's environment and people are so much better off for his efforts."

“Dick has a brilliant mind, endless energy, is a doer and a man with a passion about his beliefs,” said Marjorie Goodson, who serves on the Whitefield Conservation Commission with Mallion.