Good afternoon Senator Hamper, Representative Gattine, and Members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, and Senator Davis, Representative Dunphy, and Members of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. My name is Eliza Donoghue. I am here today on behalf of the 19,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to Read More
public lands
If America’s Public Lands Were a Business, the GOP Would be Bungling the Balance Sheet
by Yvon Chouinard Bangor Daily News reprint of LA Times op-ed American politicians have always been obsessed with running government “like a business.” They promise to make bureaucracies leaner and let the free market fix all our problems. Well, if America’s public lands were a business, shareholders would be shocked by the gross negligence of Read More
The Monument Has Incredible Potential. There Should be No Uncertainty about Its Future.
By Michelle Moody, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument — and the communities surrounding it — is a treasure with incredible potential, if only people are allowed to realize it. This summer, my local hiking group began planning a visit to the proposed national monument. We Read More
Trailblazing Maine Environmental Reporter Bob Cummings Dies at 86
A 1972 story by the longtime writer for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram resulted in 400,000 acres of Maine forestland being returned to the people of the state. By Edward D. Murphy and Beth Quimby, Staff Writers Portland Press Herald news story Bob Cummings, whose trailblazing journalism for the Portland Press Herald and Maine Read More
We Need to Let Land for Maine’s Future Make Good on Its Commitments
By Russell Black, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Early winter is just about my favorite time of year to be in the woods. The leaves are off the hardwoods, a few apples cling to the old orchard trees, a crunchy layer of snow is (usually) on the ground and, if I’m lucky, Read More
How One Man Helped Maine Win Back Public Land from Private Companies
By Stephanie Bouchard, Island Institute Bangor Daily News news story Editor’s note: This story first appeared in The Working Waterfront, published by the Island Institute, and appears here with permission. The story that would become reporter Bob Cummings’ legacy didn’t set his world on fire when White Nichols walked into the Bath Times office in Read More
Task Force Balks at LePage Plan to Divert State Timber Revenues for Home Heating
Citing constitutional restrictions, the commission spurns the governor’s idea to fund the home heating program with income from expanded logging on public lands. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A task force has recommended against using revenues from logging on state-owned lands to help low-income Mainers heat their homes, 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
Hunting for Birds on the Deboullie Public Reserved Lands
Driving into Deboullie, part of Maine’s Public Reserved Land system, was like entering Oz. As soon as we crossed the line from JD Irving’s hard-cut lands – lots of young trees, clear cuts, and plantations – the canopy closed around us. It was beautiful. My girlfriend Pam and I both laughed at the difference and Read More
