West Branch Project, Maine

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Ecological, recreational, and economic values conserved on 329,000 acres.

Location: Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic

Project Summary: To conserve the largest contiguous tract of land ever protected in Maine – 329,000 acres through a public-private partnership.

West Branch Region (Forest Society of Maine file photo)

Resource Challenge

Global market pressures were threatening the loss of extensive private forestlands that had sustained nearby communities for generations. The Forest Society of Maine brought together a partnership that included the USFS Forest Legacy Program, State of Maine, local communities, forest products industry, landowners, and sporting, and environmental groups to pioneer a broadly-accepted conservation solution, using easements and strategically targeted acquisitions, that permanently conserved these lands and their ecological, recreational, cultural, and economic values.

Examples of Key Partners

Forest Society of Maine and U.S. Forest Service—Forest Legacy Program

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

North American Wetlands Conservation Act

State of Maine Department of Conservation

State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

The Nature Conservancy—Maine Chapter

Wagner Forest Management

Private Foundations

Businesses

Community and sporting groups

Hundreds of private individuals

Results and Accomplishments

Several critical objectives were achieved by the West Branch project, which was completed in 2004 on lands that have been a magnet for adventurers since Henry David Thoreau first made his pilgrimage to this region in 1846.

· Public access for recreation was protected

· Working forest heritage was sustained

· Ecological and cultural integrity was preserved

· Habitat for many species including Canada lynx, a federally listed threatened species, is ensured

Today the property remains under private ownership under the management of Wagner Forest Management. The 282,000-acre conservation easement is held by the The Forest Society of Maine who monitors the easement ensuring that all terms are met. The State of Maine owns 47,000 acres of lands that have the highest ecological and recreational values. This partnership has served as a model for other landscape scale working forestland conservation projects in Maine.

Innovation/Highlight

The West Branch project demonstrated that divisive public opinion could be overcome through cooperation and communication that leads to mutual understanding and thoughtful conservation action.

Project Contact

Alan Hutchinson
Executive Director
Forest Society of Maine
115 Franklin Street
Bangor, ME 04401
207-945-9200
alan@fsmaine.org

Website: http://www.fsmaine.org

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