Conservation efforts in Maine’s Western Mountains are set to be bolstered due to a $4.6 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The project is being led by the Trust for Public Land, which has partnered with half a dozen other organizations.
Wolf Tone, the trust’s Maine state director, says the project aims to accomplish four things: first, protect large intact working forests, which Tone says are globally significant because of their habitat value.
“No. 2 we want to get these financial resources down into generally the medium and smaller woodlot owners to help them accomplish the timber outcomes, and No. 3, with that, have an eye toward wildlife habitat, and this is very much a wildlife habitat award, but finding that sweet spot with the working forest landowner,” he says.
And Tone says the project includes a stream restoration component. He says efforts will begin in an area between Carabassett Valley and Rangeley and radiate out in concentric circles across Maine’s western mountains and lakes.
Tone says the USDA money will be used to leverage additional financial resources for an effort which is expected to run for 3-5 years.
