Testimony in Support of LD 1969, An Act to Expand the Use of Funds to Support Land Conservation Senator Ingwersen, Representative Pluecker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I appreciate the opportunity to Read More
Land for Maine's Future & Conservation
NRCM has been involved in the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) program for many years. Maine voters have approved land bonds six times since 1987.
LMF funding has protected public lands, working farms, working waterfronts, and more in all 16 Maine counties. Conserving public access to special places is important to the mission of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. We will continue to push to ensure funding for LMF and its role in protecting lands for conservation, recreation, carbon sequestration and storage, and wildlife habitat.
Broad Statewide Coalition Announces Support for Maine Trails Bond
UPDATE: More than 480 businesses, towns, and organizations have signed on to support the Maine Trails Bond. Learn more about the Maine Trails Bond and see full list of supporters. More than 260 businesses, towns, and organizations from across the state today urged lawmakers to help make Maine a national leader in recreational and multi-use Read More
LD 1285, An Act to Extend Funding for the Land for Maine’s Future Program
Testimony in Support of LD 1285, An Act to Extend Funding for the Land for Maine’s Future Program Senator Ingwersen, Representative Pluecker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I appreciate the opportunity to Read More
Testimony in Support Certain Provisions of LD 1995 Related to Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
Testimony in Support of LD 1995, An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023 Senator Breen, Representative Pierce, Read More
Support Mac Hunter for Appointment to LMF Board
Dear Senator Dill, Representative O’Neil, and Members of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, I’m Melanie Sturm, Forests and Wildlife Program Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I’m providing testimony in support of Dr. Mac Hunter to serve on the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Board. We enthusiastically support Dr. Hunter’s nomination Read More
Top 10 Climate and Clean Energy Accomplishments from Maine’s 2021 Legislative Session
Maine’s Climate Action Plan is appropriately titled Maine Won’t Wait. With record-breaking temperatures and wildfires in the western U.S., deadly floods in Germany, and a heatwave sweeping across Siberia, it is abundantly clear that the planet can’t wait any longer for the necessary widespread, global, and transformative actions required to address the mounting impacts of Read More
Becoming a Recreational Maine Guide
Being active in the outdoors, and having a prior career in the outdoor industry, I’ve toyed with the idea of going for my Recreational Maine Guide license off and on over the years. With more spare time than usual over this past winter, I figured it was a good excuse to go for it. First Read More
Victory for Land for Maine’s Future
Maine’s most popular and effective conservation program is finally funded, and the money will be available right away! On July 1, Governor Janet Mills signed into law LD 221, the FY21-23 Appropriations Bill, which includes $40 million over four years for the Land for Maine’s Future program (LMF). Because the budget was passed by at Read More
Support of LD 1702, An Act To Authorize General Fund Bond Issues To Improve Transportation and National Guard Infrastructure and To Promote the Conservation of Land, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation
Senator Breen, Representative Pierce, and Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony in support of LD 1702 and its provisions pertaining to the Land for Maine’s Read More