The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society (BSPS) awarded two “Partner-in-Preservation” Awards at the Society’s annual meeting held October 26. The “Partner-in-Preservation” award is given to an individual or organization for partnering with the Bergen Swamp Preservation Society (BSPS) to preserve and protect the native flora and fauna of New York State.
The corporate award was received by Peggy Swapceinski, executive director of the Gillam-Grant Community Center (GGCC), Bergen. The GGCC was recognized for their support of the Bergen Swamp property in Byron and Bergen. The GGCC provided the meeting place to begin and end the Bergen Swamp spring pilgrimage tour of orchids. For over 20 years the GGCC served as custodian of BSPS document archives. Recently, the GGCC hosted a community “meet and greet” produced by the Seneca Park Zoo and the BSPS. A live Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake and a live spotted turtle were displayed to a crowd of over a hundred. These two indigenous reptile species are listed as endangered by New York State and can still be found in the Bergen Swamp.
The Gillam-Grant Community Center was nominated for this award by Society trustee John Adamski of Brighton.
The individual award was received by Joseph Whitcomb, a long serving trustee. Whitcomb, who resides in Newark, was awarded for his long service on behalf of the Zurich Bog property in Arcadia, NY and to the Society. Whitcomb served the BSPS for over 40 years as a Society trustee, president, Zurich Bog Property chairperson and as a personal inspiration to the current trustees.
Whitcomb laid the first Black Locust boardwalk trail into Zurich Bog. This trail enabled visitor access to the orchids and carnivorous plants found in this National Natural Landmark. Whitcomb oversaw the acquisition of four additional parcels of land to the BSPS Zurich Bog property. The most recent was an 18 acre parcel of land that he personally purchased and gifted to the BSPS for preservation and protection of the native wetland plants.
Joseph Whitcomb was nominated for this award by Society trustee Lee Drake Sr. of Bloomfield.
The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society is the first and oldest private ecological preservation land trust in the United States. The Society was chartered in 1936 by the New York State Department of Education as a “Living Museum.” Since its charter, the Society has operated by volunteers with a membership of 400 persons and corporations. The Society owns and manages five separate properties in upstate New York. Two of the Society’s properties are recognized by Federal Department of Interior as National Natural Landmarks: the Bergen Swamp (Bergen and Byron) and the Zurich Bog (Arcadia). The Society is renowned for the 38 species of native orchids, three species of native carnivorous plants and many other rare wetland plants that are protected on the Society’s properties.
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