Moosalamoo Association Named a Finalist in Global Tourism Prize

(from left) Moosalamoo Association President Tony Clark receiving a 2004 World Legacy Award for destination stewardship from Queen Noor of Jordan while Association Field Director Bruce Brown and Executive Director Mary Jeanne Packer look on.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vermont’s Moosalamoo Region was named as a finalist in the 2004 World Legacy Awards at a gala event hosted at the National Geographic Society headquarters by Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan. The World Legacy Awards, recognizing excellence in environmental, social, and cultural travel, are sponsored by Conservation International and National Geographic Traveler.

A panel of independent judges evaluated applications from across the globe to narrow down the selection to three finalists in each of four categories. Moosalamoo Association, Inc., was recognized in the Destination Stewardship category for demonstrating exemplary protection of their region’s natural and cultural heritage. The Moosalamoo Association is a non-profit organization that brings together specialists in tourism and conservation to learn from each other and to develop a framework for cooperative activities for natural resource conservation, recreation experience enhancement, and educational and interpretative services for visitors to the 22,000-acre Moosalamoo area of the Green Mountain National Forest.

"Tourism is the largest industry on our planet. It can be both an opportunity or a threat to protecting the Earth's natural heritage and cultural diversity," said Costas Christ. Conservation International’s Senior Director for Ecotourism. "With the World Legacy Awards we are pinpointing and highlighting those organizations that are true models of socially and environmentally responsible tourism. That’s why we send on-site inspectors to every finalist's location, so visitors are guaranteed that their tourism dollars are truly going toward organizations that are making valuable contributions toward protecting our natural and cultural heritage."

"Great travel experiences depend on keeping destinations distinctive and unspoiled," said Keith Bellows, editor of National Geographic Traveler. "These finalists understand that the people who live in a place must benefit from tourism that takes place there. That way, residents will seek to protect what tourists are coming for. We want today's tourism to leave a proud legacy for future generations: a world full of destinations that are still worth visiting."

Tony Clark, Moosalamoo Association’s president and owner of Blueberry Hill Inn and Ski Touring Center in Goshen, Vt., accepted the award on behalf of the organization. "It is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition," Clark said. "Our accomplishments in protecting and conserving Moosalamoo’s precious resources were made possible by grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and the US Forest Service; and by donations from people who share our Association’s vision."

At the time of its formation in 1989, the primary focus of the Moosalamoo Association was on education and interpretation. However, in 1999, challenged by Forest Service managers to play a more active role in the Moosalamoo area’s management, the Association embraced an expanded role in protecting and enhancing the diverse natural and cultural resources of the area. Today, the organization’s staff and volunteers are responsible for the maintenance of about 60 miles of trails annually, restoration of a 30-acre wild blueberry area, nearly 200 acres/year of wildlife habitat improvement, a number of watershed restoration activities, year-round interpretive programming, and a variety visitor services.