The Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) Named 2026 Conservationist of the Year

The Forest Society presented its prestigious Conservationist of the Year Award at its 125th Annual Meeting, held at Forest Society North at The Rocks on September 26, 2026. This award recognizes individuals or organizations demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to land conservation with lasting, statewide impact. This year, coinciding with its own 25th anniversary, the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) was selected for its transformative role in preserving New Hampshire's natural and historical landscape.

Over the last 25 years, LCHIP’s impact has reached into local communities across every corner of the state. For the Forest Society alone, LCHIP has helped complete 40 projects spanning 21,000 acres with $7.5 million in vital support. On a statewide level, the program’s reach is staggering, partnering with 350 organizations on 650 projects to conserve 250,000 acres of land.

“We are honored to receive this award from the Forest Society, an organization that understands that conservation is about more than protecting a piece of land,” said LCHIP Board Chair Ben Wilcox. “It is about connecting people to places, connecting communities to their landscapes, and connecting one conserved property to another. That idea of connection is at the heart of LCHIP.” 

Wilcox added, “LCHIP would not be nearly as effective without the organizations and communities that use our funding as a springboard—to build local support, bring in additional funding, engage volunteers and donors, and turn an idea into a project that lasts. That is what makes the LCHIP model work, and it is why this recognition means so much to us.”

Founded through the dedicated advocacy of dozens of conservation and history champions, LCHIP has grown into an overwhelmingly popular and essential state program. This success is a testament to the decades of leadership from its board members, supportive elected officials, and its three executive directors: Rachel Roulliard, Dijit Taylor, and Paula Bellemore.

What makes LCHIP uniquely impactful nationwide is its dual mission to support both land conservation and historic preservation. By protecting both natural landscapes and cultural landmarks, LCHIP enjoys broad, bipartisan support and plays a vital role in ensuring it remains a beautifully forested state with a rich history where people deeply desire to live, work, and visit.

“It is a privilege to present the Forest Society’s highest honor during our landmark 125th anniversary to a program that has truly transformed our state,” said Jack Savage, president of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. “LCHIP’s unique dual mission doesn't just protect our natural spaces; it keeps New Hampshire, New Hampshire. On behalf of our Board of Trustees and 10,000 member households, we laud LCHIP's founders, its dedicated board members, supportive elected officials, and its three exceptional executive directors for a quarter-century of proving what is possible when we invest in our state's future.”