State-wide award recognizes local land conservation champions

PORTSMOUTH — The NH Association of Conservation Districts recently recognized Sarah Thorne and her late husband, Tom Howe, as co-winners of the 2021 New Hampshire Conservation Cooperator of the Year. The Belknap County Conservation District nominated Thorne and Howe of Gilmanton Iron Works in recognition for over 34 years of conserving special places through conservation easements. Sarah Thorne accepted the award at a 13-state Conservation District conference stating, “I am grateful for your recognition that permanently conserved land is vital to providing our future food and forest products.”

Sarah Thorne and Tom Howe have been conservation leaders in Gilmanton, the Lakes Region and statewide for decades. Their work helped landowners, towns, and state agencies conserve thousands of acres of special lands for trails, habitat, farming, water supply protection and sustainable forest management. Tom worked for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust for 10 years. Sarah and Tom both worked for the Society for Protection for New Hampshire Forests for decades with Tom serving most recently as senior director of Land Conservation when he passed last January. Sarah left the Forest Society to teach science at Prospect Mountain High School in Alton and now serves on a forest research crew for the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation. She also volunteers with the Five Rivers Conservation Trust. Tom was a founding and active member of the Gilmanton Land Trust and the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition.

Sarah and Tom created the Howe/Thorne Easement in Gilmanton Iron Works near Crystal Lake. They both were mentors and educators to young conservationists throughout their careers. Belknap County is one of the many beneficiaries of their work in conservation and as champions for land protection and understanding the natural world. Tom passing in an accident last January, reminds us of the huge difference that dedicated conservationists can make to save special places in New Hampshire. Sarah Thorne continues this important work which benefits us and future generations.