All Mainers have right and responsibility to provide input on priorities to the panel. By George Smith Central Maine newspapers column We have a big stake in the work of the new Commission to Study the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund, organized by the Legislature. After all, we own those 600,000 acres of public lands. Read More
North Woods Protection & LUPC
The 10.4-million-acre Maine North Woods, which makes up nearly half of the entire state, is the largest remaining undeveloped forest in the eastern United States. The region is at risk of being lost forever, as rapid changes in ownership have brought unprecedented pressures – from development to heavy logging.
Land for Maine’s Future Too Vulnerable to Governor’s Whims
The structure of the popular conservation program should be changed so one person can’t stall it unilaterally. By The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial Members of the Land for Maine’s Future board have a right to be angry. For years, the program has worked without a hitch. A bond was approved by the Legislature Read More
State Debates Where to Put Profits from Increased Timber Harvest
By A.J. Higgins MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A special legislative commission is taking a closer look at how the state can spend $8 million in funding generated from timber harvesting of public lands. Gov. Paul LePage has tried to use the money to pay for heating assistance for the elderly, but critics say Read More
Heavier Logging of Maine Public Lands Focus of New Commission
by Christine Parrish Free Press news story A new commission has just been formed by the state legislature to study the impacts of a shift away from a conservation forestry focus on Maine Public Lands to the commercial timber approach it embraced in 2013 — and the possible uses of those new timber dollars. The Read More
6 Species that Could Disappear from Maine Within the Next Generation
By Seth Koenig Bangor Daily News column In 2011, the journal Science published a groundbreaking study that tracked the recent habitat shifts of nearly 1,400 animals, plants and insects, and the results were striking. Researchers found that the species were moving away from the equator and into higher elevations two to three times as fast Read More
LePage Administration’s Timber Harvest Proposal Meets Resistance
Environmental and conservation groups caution that the governor’s plan to fund heating assistance could lead to intensive logging on public lands and create a dangerous budget precedent. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The LePage administration made its case Wednesday for funneling money from logging on state-owned lands into Read More
Bill’s Supporters Push to Force LePage to Issue Land Conservation Bonds
Republican Sen. Roger Katz, who introduced the bill, says the Legislature will ‘set a terrible precedent’ if it lets the governor withhold the voter-approved bonds. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s hardball political tactics came under bipartisan criticism Monday from lawmakers who are considering a bill Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to Proposed Committee Amendments, LD 750
Senator Saviello, Representative Welsh, and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee: My name is Nick Bennett, and I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with over 16,000 members and supporters. NRCM opposes the Committee’s proposed amendments to LD 750 because: Read More
Critics Say LePage ‘Cherry-picking’ Land Conservation Deals
The $1.7 million federal grant he accepted is separate from voter-approved bonds, but some say he’s superseding a state board with 30 projects lined up. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has accepted $1.7 million in federal funding for a 13,875-acre conservation project in Piscataquis County, Read More
