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Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership

 
The Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership Announces the Completion of a Historic 342,000-acre Conservation Project in Eastern Maine.

Downeast Lakes Forestry PartnershipClick here for May 11, 2008 press release.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at 11:00 AM, the Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership is hosting a press conference and reception celebrating the completion of this historic project.

Governor John Elias Baldacci will thank funders and volunteers who were instrumental in the success of this endeavor. Representatives of the land trusts, including local residents, will discuss this unique, locally-inspired project and its place in Maine’s working forest landscape. This cooperative project is a model for land conservation to sustain rural communities and preserve public recreational access!

The Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership is a joint effort of the New England Forestry Foundation, the Downeast Lakes Land Trust, and the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust to protect 342,000 acres of nearly contiguous woodlands and waterways in Washington County, Maine. Locally incubated, locally led, and locally supported, the project was designed to address the social and economic needs of Maine’s easternmost county, while achieving far-reaching conservation goals.

The 342,000 acres conserved create a centerpiece for more than 1 million acres of essentially uninterrupted habitat across the international boundary from Maine to New Brunswick. The project area has been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy.

The Partnership’s budget of $34.8 million was used to fund the three purchases, establish critical monitoring and management endowments, and cover the costs of the capital campaign. The project succeeded because of tremendous support from the Acres for America program, a partnership of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Wal-Mart, in cooperation with The Conservation Fund, and from: the Open Space Conservancy at the Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Mrs. Elmina B. Sewall, the Land For Maine’s Future Program, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Sweet Water Trust, the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust, Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township, National Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Forever, and many other individuals, corporations, and foundations. 

NECN (New England Cable News) has teamed up with NEFF and the Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership. NECN's Scot Yount put a spotlight on this beautiful part of our region, and offered viewers the opportunity to be part of this historic conservation project to keep this land unspoiled.

The 342,000 acres conserved create a centerpiece for more than 1 million acres of essentially uninterrupted habitat across the international boundary from Maine to New Brunswick. The project area has been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy. The transaction consisted of three major purchases:

  • St. Croix Corridor: the State of Maine acquired a 50-mile, 3,019 acre, conservation corridor along Spednic Lake and the Upper St. Croix River.
  • Farm Cove Community Forest: the Farm Cove Community Forest, 27,080 acres bordered by 62 miles of pristine lakeshore, was purchased on May 15, 2005, and is managed as a community forest by Downeast Lakes Land Trust.
  • Conservation Easement: NEFF purchased an easement over 312,000 acres of the “Sunrise Tree Farm” on May 15, 2005, and the State of Maine acquired a public access easement on the same lands. The land is still owned by Typhoon, LLC and managed by Wagner Forest Mgt.

Click here for more project details.
Project Location
Click for the Project Map

Click here for May 2008 press release.

 

 

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Contact Lynn Lyford, Executive Director of New England Forestry Foundation  at 978-952-6856 x103, or

Mark Berry, Executive Director of the Downeast Lakes Land Trust, at (207) 796-2100 


New England Forestry Foundation
PO Box 1346
Littleton, MA 01460
(978) 952-6856
info@newenglandforestry.org
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