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 didn’t receive requested information to justify a need for the change. “We were afraid if we put it in a different department that would change the mission and make public lands more like you would manage as a private forest for timber and mostly just for money. We don’t see public lands that way and the people of Maine don’t see it that way,” said Representative, Craig Hickman.
The committee will forward its recommendation to appropriations.
