Good afternoon, Senator Edgecomb, Representative Hickman and members of the committee. My name is Cathy Johnson. I am a resident of Alna and the North Woods Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am speaking today on behalf of NRCM’s 16,000 members and supporters in opposition to LD 817. This bill makes a number of 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.
Committee Rejects Plan to Split Bureau of Parks and Lands
by Nakell Williams WABI-TV news story The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry rejected a part of the governor’s budget plan. It involves splitting the Bureau of Parks and Lands and placing public lands under forestry. Committee members say they didn’t get any supporting calls or e-mails from constituents. They also say they Read More
Bouncing Back: Maine Landowners Work to Save Cottontail Rabbits
By Aislinn Sarnacki, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Once abundant in farming communities, the New England cottontail rabbit has all but disappeared from Maine in the past few decades. Today, biologists estimate that 250 to 300 cottontails remain in the state, and they’re secluded to small pockets of shrublands south of Portland. “It’s Read More
The Real Road to Nowhere Would be the East-west Corridor
It’s time the state realizes this would be the surest path to environmental and economic degradation. By Chris Buchanan, Special to the Press Herald Portland Press Herald op-ed BELGRADE — The proposed east-west transportation, communications and utility corridor has raised important questions regarding the state’s transportation policy. Two bills have been introduced by Maine legislators to ensure Read More
Maine Should be a Place Based on Laws, Not LePage’s Whims
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Gov. Paul LePage was easily re-elected in November and he will no doubt leave his mark on the state and its government. However, this doesn’t give him license to ignore existing state laws or policies. After refusing to sign off on the issuance of bonds approved Read More
Legislators Worry LePage about to Put Public Lands in Pro-harvesting Hands
Many believe he’s planning to have the same director for the forest service and the parks bureau, two agencies with different missions. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — State lawmakers and conservation groups are raising concerns that Gov. Paul LePage will soon appoint the current director of the Maine Read More
LePage Says He’ll Decide Which Land Deals Maine Will Fund
The governor reiterates that his decision to withhold bonds is designed to press for increased timber harvesting. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Gov. Paul LePage said this week that he plans to personally review and choose conservation and public easement projects before funding them with voter-approved bonds. His announcement has Read More
200 Maine Businesses Sign Letter Backing National Park Concept
By The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story BANGOR — A group of more than 200 Maine business owners say they support the creation of a national park and recreation area on 150,000 acres east of Baxter State Park. The businesses sent letters to Maine’s congressional delegation on Thursday urging support for the project. Read More
Businesses Show Support for National Park Proposal
By Kayla Binette, WCSH6 Staff WCSH6 news story BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — More than 200 businesses in the state are now in strong support of the proposed national park and national recreation area in the Katahdin region. “I’m for this national park, primarily because there is going to be an economic benefit to the Read More
