In February I spent five days with students from Chewonki’s Maine Coast Semester exploring Katahdin Woods and Waters, the area east of Baxter State Park proposed for inclusion in the National Park system. The Maine Coast Semester is a four-month-long program for high school juniors. In the fall and again in the winter/spring, 42 participants Read More
Outdoor Recreation
Maine's environment offers many opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation, whether it be paddling, bird watching, hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, or other activities, Maine has beautiful lakes, forests, trails, and coastline to explore. Outdoor recreation is an important part of Maine's economy as well as a reason for Maine to preserve and protect as much public land as we can, so it is available for us to enjoy now, as well as for future generations.
The Case for a Katahdin Woods National Monument
By Edgar Allen Beem The Forecaster column Just in time for the centennial of the National Park Service and the final year of the Obama administration, philanthropist Roxanne Quimby and her family are seeking national monument status for the land east of Baxter State park they have been assembling in hopes of it becoming a Read More
We Have a Path Forward for a New National Park, Recreation Area
By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Over the last four years, support has been growing in the Katahdin region, around Maine and across the country for a new national park and national recreation area on up to 150,000 acres east of Baxter State Park. The proposal has been fine tuned Read More
Collins, King, Poliquin Offer Way Forward on National Park Issue
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Members of Maine’s congressional delegation deserve praise for seeking a sensible way forward on the contentious issue of a establishing a national park in northern Maine. In a letter to President Barack Obama dated Friday, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin outlined Read More
“I Love Our Maine Lands” Photo Contest Pictures
Maine’s Public Reserved Lands are among our state’s most treasured lands—but many people don’t know it! They include much-loved places like Tumbledown, Grafton Notch, Kennebec Highlands, Bigelow Preserve, and many more. In fact, Maine has approximately 600,000 acres of Public Reserved Lands in more than 30 separate parcels located across the state. They are enjoyed Read More
Money for Maine Goes Elsewhere When Land Conservation Projects Stall
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial With little explanation, the LePage administration has decided not to pursue federal conservation money the state has used for decades to maintain working forestland while ensuring public recreational access. This move comes after Gov. Paul LePage earlier this year essentially shut down the state’s Land for Read More
My Maine This Week: Sandy Holt Snide
Descending Borestone Mountain in Elliottsville, Maine. “I took this photo on October 19, 2014. A group of hikers climbed Borestone on that day with Maine Guide Victor Morin, Director of Connecting With Nature (a program through The JD Foundation). This is a great hike with a beautiful view from the top.” Photo by Sandy Holt Snide of Parkman, Read More
Widespread Support in Maine, Across U.S. for New National Park
Petition Signers in 80% of Maine Towns, 50 States, and 53 Nations News release The petition was signed by more than 13,500 individuals living in 371 Maine towns, all 50 states, and 53 countries. The group also released a list of endorsements from groups, businesses, and individuals, and a compilation of public opinion surveys documenting Read More
LePage’s Strange Grudge Puts Working Forest at Risk
Instead of accepting federal funds to conserve land, Maine will take its chances this year. By The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial The projects that have protected some of Maine’s most cherished areas are the result of complex work that can take years. The one assurance through long negotiations and tedious legal work is that, Read More
