The Bermuda National Trust yesterday presented an environmental protection award to four United States Navy Personnel for their work on Cooper's Island.

And as the date for the planned American withdrawal from the Island approaches, Bermudians can rest assured the Base lands are in good shape.

At the Trust's annual general meeting at Pembroke Sunday School, Governor Lord Waddington and Trust president Mr. David White, handed out awards to school groups, businesses and individuals for their contributions to preserving Bermuda's delicate environment.

Bermudian archeologist Dr. Edward Harris was this year's winner of the Trust's highest accolade for his contributions to the recording of Bermuda's underwater heritage.

Dr. Harris was integral to the development of the Bermuda Maritime Museum and through his work has exposed Bermuda to the academic world.

In addition to his studies of underwater archeology, the Trust said Dr. Harris has examined many early colonial buildings and his seminal research has been a beacon illuminating this facet of Bermuda's heritage.

He thanked many of the people with whom he had worked closely during his 14 year association with the Trust.

"It is my privilege to help in a small way to preserve those things Bermudian,'' he said. "This is a tremendous honour especially since this is the National Trust's highest accolade.'' Dr. Harris said he wants to see more Government legislation that protects the Island's historic buildings and shipwrecks.

Meanwhile, Captain Tim Bryan, who is the commanding officer at the United States Naval Air Station, commander Mike Donnelly, Mr. Curtis Kimbel, and Mr.

Jim Simmen were presented with an environmental protection award.

They were presented with this award for their part in cleaning up the base before it is returned to Bermuda.

As the withdrawal date for United States Navy approaches, Bermudians can rest assured that the property will be returned in a well kept state because of the work currently being carried out by the Navy's public works department, they said.

And that should help to end the concerns that the US Navy would leave their two bases in St. David's and Southampton in a messy state, when they depart in September 1995.

A nature trail has been prepared on Cooper's Island, which is in the south-east corner of the Base.

Cooper's Island was long seen as an important area for nature before the Americans took it over.

The Navy's environmental division created a nature trail by rescuing a lot of the natural flora.

Elementary students from Chaffee planted trees on the site which has important historical resonances.

In the seventeenth century Christopher Carter chose it as his farmland where settlers took refuge from rats that were plaguing the island.

The Navy also earned a certificate for caring for Bermuda's oldest standing building, Carter House.

MAJOR PRIZE -- Bermuda Maritime Museum director Dr. Edward Harris poses with the National Trust's Palmetto Award, its highest environmental accolade.