By Julia Bayly, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story The public gets its first opportunity to comment on a plan to rezone 51,000 acres within the Fish River Chain of Lakes at two public hearings later this month in northern Maine. J.D. Irving’s proposed concept plan asks the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to Read More
Forests and Wildlife
NRCM works to protect Maine’s natural areas and wild, undeveloped character, particularly in the North Woods. We support responsible land development and sustainable forest practices that protect sensitive ecosystems and wildlife. We work for increased public ownership of Maine lands, so future generations will know the Maine we love today.
Protection of Maine’s natural, remote areas was one of the issues for which NRCM was founded in 1959. More than 60 years later, much progress has been made but major threats to Maine’s land and water resources continue.
Read news & blogs about our work to protect Maine's forests and wildlife.
State Mulling New Camping Options at Eagle Lake, Deboullie
by Anthony Brino, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story ASHLAND, Maine — The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands is hosting a public meeting in Ashland Wednesday to gather input on a proposal to add and expand campsites at public reserve lands around Eagle Lake and Deboullie Mountain. The Bureau of Parks and Lands, Read More
LePage Administration Agrees to Post Signs Directing Drivers to Katahdin Monument
The state had held off on posting signs while the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument was under review by the Trump administration. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The LePage administration has agreed to allow signs on Interstate 95 and state highways directing drivers to Katahdin Woods and Read More
18 Months After Its Creation, National Monument in Northern Maine to Get Road Signs
By Susan Sharon Maine Public news story It has been 18 months since former President Barack Obama designated the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in northern Maine — but there are still no road signs to direct interested visitors where to go or how to get there. Republican Gov. Paul LePage made headlines last Read More
Athens Community School Receives NRCM Middle School Grant
Funds will be used for hands-on conservation learning. Central Maine newspapers news story Because of a grant from the Natural Resources Council of Maine, students participating in 4-H club at Athens Community School will learn about local wildlife and monitor their behavior. Middle school students, guided by their teacher Kassie Dwyer, will build wildlife houses and set Read More
Conservation Groups Oppose Development Changes Proposed for Maine Woods
By Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Conservation groups in Maine on Wednesday urged state officials not to expand the distance limit that determines where subdivisions and commercial projects can be built in the state’s Unorganized Territory. The Land Use Planning Commission is considering a change in policy that would allow zoning Read More
Panel Could Allow Greater Development in 2.5M Acres of Maine Woods
By Bill Trotter, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story The Land Use Planning Commission is considering a proposal that could allow subdivision or commercial development in nearly 2.5 million acres in the Unorganized Territory in Maine. Part of that area already allows such development within one mile of existing, similarly developed areas. Development of Read More
Don’t Blame Land Conservation for Rising Maine Property Taxes
Reduced state aid to municipalities and schools is what’s putting the pinch on taxpayers. Portland Press Herald editorial For years, Gov. LePage has blamed schools for being unwilling to control costs. Now, he says, it was the land trusts all along. On the radio, in his recent State of the State address and in a Read More
Maine Land Trusts Say Governor Uses Bogus Data in Pitch to Tax Them
Conservation advocates call his claims misleading and say he ignores payments made to host towns in lieu of taxes. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is once again accusing conservation groups of “ripping off” taxpayers in Maine by not paying local taxes on vast swaths of Read More