2020 Report from the Frontlines: What’s Inside! This year, our Legislative Report Card looks a little different. The Maine Legislature left Augusta in mid-March due to COVID-19, so many bills didn’t receive hearings or votes. In this special report, NRCM staff provide short essays describing how we continue to press forward with NRCM’s work to Read More
Maine Environment Newsletters
Maine Environment newsletters are informative news publications that keep NRCM members up to date on the environmental challenges facing Maine, including ways to take actions to help.
Learn about our work addressing the effects of climate change in Maine, what NRCM is doing to keep Maine's waters healthy, how we protect Maine's forests and wildlife, and ways you can help make Maine communities more sustainable. Get up-to-date information about legislative issues at the state and federal level that may impact the environment Maine people and visitors to our state treasure.
We also produce two special editions of Maine Environment. Our Legislative Priorities highlights proposed legislation NRCM staff will be paying close attention to during each upcoming legislative session, and our one-of-a-kind Report Card for Maine’s Environment appears post-session to show where Maine’s elected officials were successful—or not successful—at protecting land, air, waters, and wildlife Mainers rely upon for a strong economy and healthy lives.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine is a nonprofit membership organization protecting, restoring, and conserving Maine's environment, now and for future generations.
Maine Environment Spring 2020 Newsletter
Maine Environment Spring 2020: What’s Inside! In this issue of Maine Environment, we feature a story about the 30-year legacy of our former Forests & Wildlife Director Cathy Johnson, who retired earlier this year. You can read the full version of the story online. Cathy helped protect Moosehead Lake from a massive development proposal by Plum Read More
Protecting Maine’s North Woods: The Legacy of Cathy Johnson
by Douglas Rooks For 30 years, there’s been no fiercer, more consistent, or passionate advocate of protecting the Maine woods and enhancing its wildness. Cathy Johnson came to the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) in 1990, and two years later began working full-time on the North Woods project – a role she fulfilled for Read More
Flying the Flag of Wilderness
Flags are symbols that can mean different things to different people, but there is generally a shared understanding of the values they represent. Wilderness is similar in that it embodies an ideal ecological state. A mental picture of wilderness is easy to call up: You might imagine free-flowing rivers, bountiful wildlife, or dark, starfilled skies. Read More
Celebrating Maine’s Bicentennial: Places of Inspiration
Maine’s 200th anniversary provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the special places we love. There’s the way the sun shines through a patch of forest in the hills and mountains where we hike. There is the sparkle of rivers and lakes where we swim and ply our paddles. There are many natural places dear Read More
Maine Environment Fall 2019 Newsletter
Maine Environment Fall 2019: What’s Inside! In this issue of Maine Environment, we feature an important story by NRCM Sustainable Maine Director Sarah Nichols about the fundamental problems Maine is facing in regard to recycling materials, and how we can fix it through an extended producer responsibility for packaging policy reform. Sarah talks about a new Read More
Fixing Fundamental Problems with Recycling
Recycling is one of the key ways we can keep materials out of landfills and conserve our natural resources. For decades, Maine people have developed a strong recycling ethic because they want to do the right thing. However, many are losing access to recycling programs due to changes in the recycled commodities markets. This is Read More
Allagash Wilderness Waterway: Reasons to Celebrate
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a treasure of northern Maine. The two of us have, collectively, canoed the full length or significant parts of it a dozen times since it was designated a Wild and Scenic River by the federal government in 1970. The longest trips begin either at Telos or Chamberlain Lakes—with a side Read More
Explore the Nature of Maine: 60 Years Protecting Special Places
This year, the Natural Resources Council of Maine celebrates 60 years of protecting the nature of Maine. We are making time to pause and reflect on what we have accomplished together: clean air, clean water, and an abundance of special places that provide recreational opportunities that many of us love, like hiking, swimming, paddling, and Read More
