By Steve Mistler, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — About $6.5 million in voter-approved bonds for the Land for Maine’s Future program that Gov. Paul LePage withheld as a political bargaining chip have effectively expired, imperiling some conservation projects funded by the program. Director Sarah Demers told LMF board members Tuesday that although 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.
Lawmakers Should Take Bonds Out of LePage’s Hands
The governor’s overuse of political leverage creates a system of unchecked one-man rule. By The Editorial Board Maine Sunday Telegram editorial Nineteen bills that Gov. LePage did not veto dominated last week’s political news, but that should not distract attention from a single bill that he did veto. L.D. 1378, sponsored by Republican Sen. Roger Read More
Increased Logging and Oversight on Maine Public Lands Passed into Law
by Christine Parrish Free Press news story In spite of increasing questions about whether Maine’s Public Lands are being treated more like commercial forests than the multiple-use forests they were established by law to be, logging targets increased from 141,000 to 160,000 cords per year when the new biennial budget was signed into law in Read More
LePage Vetoes Land for Maine’s Future Bond Bill
The measure seeks to force him to issue bonds for the conservation program. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — As expected, Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill Tuesday aimed at forcing him to sell $11.4 million in bonds for the Land for Maine’s Future program that he has been Read More
Lawmakers Must Hold Firm to Put Land for Maine’s Future Back on Track
Bangor Daily News editorial Lawmakers have taken strong stands on two important issues in recent weeks, pushing back against an obstinate governor to put two programs — Land for Maine’s Future and Efficiency Maine — back on track. We’d like to see lawmakers continue to stand firm against a governor who is demonstrating no interest Read More
Nostalgia Isn’t an Economic Development Plan for the Katahdin Region
By Avern Danforth, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed We need a serious conversation about jobs and how we can create more of them, particularly in northern Maine. The numbers speak for themselves. In communities such as East Millinocket, Millinocket, Medway and Stacyville, the unemployment rate is two or three times the state Read More
Wilderness Guides Endorse National Park and Recreation Area
By David Farmer Bangor Daily News news story The Maine Wilderness Guides Organization Board of Directors announces its endorsement of a proposal to create the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Park. “A new national park and national recreation area will provide an enormous benefit to Maine’s guides and the sporting lodge community by drawing visitors Read More
National Park Plan Merits Delegation’s Backing
The proposal takes a proven approach to packaging the Katahdin area’s natural assets. By The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial Members of Maine’s congressional delegation will be watching closely later this month as residents of the Katahdin-area towns of East Millinocket and Medway vote on their support for a proposed north woods national park Read More
Bill Passed by House and Senate would Force LePage to Sell Conservation Bonds
The bill, sponsored by a Republican senator, is a response to the governor’s decision to withhold bonds from a state conservation program as leverage with lawmakers. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A bill that would force Gov. Paul LePage to sell voter-approved bonds received strong bipartisan support in Read More