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.
With our coalition partners, NRCM has won many significant victories over the years, from helping establish the Allagash Wilderness Waterway to passage of legislation limiting irresponsible clear cuts. But the challenges of protecting Maine’s treasured wildlands and the wildlife that depend upon them have never been greater, nor the need more urgent.
We worked to establish a National Monument just east of Baxter State Park and continue our work to push for Land for Maine’s Future funding to acquire public lands, watchdog Maine’s public lands and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, stop the ill-conceived East-West Highway from being built, weigh-in when harmful development is proposed in Maine’s North Woods, and ensure that any timber harvesting laws and policies are as protective as possible.
More than one-third of the state has changed ownership in the past 20 years. Corporations that have no stake in our local communities are buying up hundreds of thousands of acres. Slicing and dicing these natural areas can destroy the character of Maine’s North Woods forever.
This loss would affect not only the people of Maine but also our wildlife. The region is home to moose, bear, deer, and dozens of bird species—Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse, Pine Grosbeak, Cape May Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher—for which the North Woods are the southernmost limit of their breeding range. Maine’s North Woods also provide many recreational opportunities for Maine people. Unchecked development threatens access to undeveloped, wild forests, lakes, and rivers for hiking, canoeing, camping, hunting and fishing.
While development pressures and the loss of public access continue to intensify, NRCM remains a voice for balancing economic development in Maine’s North Woods with conservation.
We invite you to learn more about our work to protect Maine’s North Woods and other natural areas, and to support our vital work for generations to come.
Plum Creek Violates Erosion Regulations
NRCM Calls on LURC to Impose Fines NRCM news release Based on an evaluation of internal documents from Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) concludes that Plum Creek and one of its logging contractors, Theriault Tree Harvesting (TTH), last fall violated Maine regulations designed to protect water quality Read More
Environmental Groups Critical of Plum Creek and Maine Regulators
by Susan Sharon Maine Public Radio news story Just days after the Plum Creek Timber Company acknowledged that it mistakenly logged a deer wintering area and violated a voluntary agreement with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the company is under fire again; and so is the state agency that oversees land use in Read More
Fate of Moosehead Lake in LURC’s Hands
Citizens speak out, Commission deliberates Natural Resources Council of Maine * Maine Audubon Bangor, ME, September 23, 2008 — Maine people may learn this week what will happen with Plum Creek’s development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. Today, citizens from across Maine gathered in Bangor to read from more than 1,500 letters sent to Read More
Plum Creek’s Lily Bay Development Throws Entire Plan out of Balance
Statement by Brownie Carson, NRCM executive director Good morning. Over the next two days, members of Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission will hold one of their most significant deliberations ever. The outcome of Plum Creek’s rezoning application could determine the fate of a special region of Maine – Moosehead Lake – for generations to come. Read More
Ecologists Say Plum Creek Forest Is Old; Not Old Growth
by Susan Sharon Maine Public Radio news story A few weeks ago we brought you the story of a unique forest not far from the town of Monson in Elliottsville Township. Big Wilson Stream Forest is owned by the Plum Creek Timber Company and has been slated for cutting. Some environmentalists who’ve visited the 220 Read More
Baldacci “Concerned” about Plum Creek Plans for Lily Bay
by Kevin Miller Bangor Daily News news story Gov. John Baldacci expressed concerns about the amount of development Plum Creek has proposed near Lily Bay, an area on Moosehead Lake’s eastern shores that features one of Maine’s more popular state parks. The governor said he has full confidence in the Land Use Regulation Commission as Read More
Overwhelming Numbers Urge LURC to Save Lily Bay from Plum Creek Moosehead Lake Development
Natural Resources Council of Maine * Maine Audubon July 16, 2008 — Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission received a huge volume of comments during the past month as citizens responded to what may be one of their last opportunities to affect Plum Creek’s development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. During a month-long comment period Read More
Vernal Pools Fuel Maine Woods
by Travis Barrett, Outdoors Writer Kennebec Journal news story WAYNE — In an instant we are all five years old again, tromping our way through ankle-deep muck and sloshing along in the water in rubber boots. Mosquitos are relentless in their pursuit of our flesh, so the only sound to interrupt that of the splashing Read More
Protect Critical Wildlife Habitat on Lily Bay
Statement by Sheila Kelley Good afternoon. My name is Sheila Kelley and I live year-round in Beaver Cove, on Moosehead Lake. I am here to share my view regarding the importance of protecting critical habitat for the endangered Canada lynx on the Lily Bay Peninsula. I live just 3 miles from Lily Bay State Park, Read More
Banner photo: Moose near Baxter State Park, by Gerard Monteux
