The Nature Conservancy in Maine STRATEGIC PLAN 2018–2023 © Ian Patterson Why Maine Matters ur work, supported by donors Maine not only feels like a special place in the This is leading to a historic recovery of and visionaries like you, is making world, it is. The Northern Appalachian forest prolific sea-run fish populations across an impact.O Over the last decade, we worked with runs through our state and is one of the the state because of improved habitat partners to restore fish passage to a thousand miles of largest intact deciduous forests anywhere and reestablished connections to habitat in the Penobscot River watershed; we brokered in the world. It supports a great diversity traditional spawning grounds. the nation’s largest transfer of development rights of wildlife and habitats, as well as rivers, Equally important to river habitat, and with a timber company on the shores of Moosehead streams, lakes, and ponds that are home inextricably linked, is the Gulf of Maine. It Lake; we established a partnership with fishermen to native fisheries and contribute to the is one of the most complex and productive marine and women to protect their livelihoods by working health of the Gulf of Maine. Our forest’s ecosystems on the planet. It is the economic to rebuild biodiversity in the Gulf of Maine; and we value as an ecosystem, an economic lifeblood of coastal communities and helped to secure a regional cap-and-trade program to engine, a cultural touchstone, and is an integral part of the cultural reduce carbon emissions. a state symbol is extraordinary. In 1956, pioneering ecologist and author Rachel fabric of New England, home As the impacts from climate change increase, Thanks to decades of work Maine represents the greatest to the iconic Maine lobster, Carson, along with a handful of Maine citizens, collaboration and innovation become even more and policies put in place opportunity for watershed conservation Atlantic cod, and many founded the Maine chapter of The Nature urgent. Working together with a diverse coalition to improve water quality, and restoration anywhere east of the more fish and shellfish of conservationists, scientists, community leaders, alongside a tradition of forest species. After many years Conservancy. According to Carson, “It is the only concerned citizens, and supporters like you, we stewardship and generous Mississippi River. of significant loss, the overall group I know which is doing something practical can ensure that our past successes endure, and our philanthropy, Maine’s key watersheds, health of New England groundfish work continues to inspire and make a difference. By like the Penobscot and Kennebec, are now largely populations is improving, due in part to restoration about actually preserving areas.” We continue listening deeply, we can design projects with broad healthy and intact overall. In fact, they are among the work done and led by The Nature Conservancy and that tradition today, blending pragmatism with approval, based in scrupulous science, and poised least disturbed and most climate-resilient watersheds its supporters. for greatest impact. It is this approach—informed by in the eastern United States. sound science to address the most pressing our communities, grounded in science, and moving threats to our natural world. towards action—that makes us who we are today. Just like Rachel Carson before us. From Maine, we are creating a world of solutions. Photo above courtesy of Linda Lear Center for 2 Special Collections & Archives, Connecticut College 3 © Bridget Besaw © Bridget Challenges and the Path Forward OUR VISION AND APPROacH A SHARED CONSERVatION AGENDA We envision a world where the diversity of life thrives, As part of a global organization, we in Maine and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and are not alone in addressing these challenges. its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives. As While the details are specific to Maine, the we work to make this vision a reality, in Maine and broad themes of climate change, economic across the globe, our approach is guided by principles challenges, socio-political partisanship, and that connect the multiple threads of our work. In dwindling resources can be found wherever particular, we are committed to: we work. “We work with people, and for people, to ensure healthy forests, clean • Integrating strategies across our different areas To unify our conservation approach across the free-flowing rivers, abundant oceans, and solutions to climate change, here of focus, mirroring the interdependency of the world, The Nature Conservancy articulated a ecosystems we work to conserve. global conservation agenda based on a strong and in Maine and around the globe. No other conservation organization has a thorough foundation of scientific evidence. This • Focusing on biodiversity by working on land includes an analysis that affirms our vision of mission as comprehensive and effective.”—Kate Dempsey, Maine State Director and in water, at the scale of nature, and across a world where people and nature thrive together, geographic and political boundaries. provided that significant changes are made in • Engaging communities whose lives and the way we provide food, water, energy, and other livelihoods are linked to the natural systems resources to a global population expected to grow to 9 billion by 2050. While we have fostered many significant • Our current statewide road-stream crossing we work to conserve. conservation victories, the natural resources infrastructure is failing and leaving migrating • Catalyzing partnerships and policies with all We must act now. The Nature Conservancy in of our state face real and mounting challenges. fish and people in our communities vulnerable sectors of society to forge strong relationships Maine’s work will help to ensure that we are making Climate change, a partisan political environment, to flooding and volatile weather. that empower us to further our conservation goals. the greatest possible difference for the planet. This dwindling public funds, and a host of other approach builds on our history and includes eight • Renewable energy sources are not yet available at issues put all our successes at risk, demanding • Leveraging innovation and investing in resources key conservation strategies. the scale required to move away from traditional a powerful call to action. Issues of increasing and staff to push the frontier of conservation energy sources to mitigate climate change. concern to us in Maine are that: science, take decisive action, and inspire others • Our children and young people in increasingly to follow. • The Gulf of Maine is warming at a faster greater numbers do not see their lives as rate than 99% of the world’s oceans. • Creating tangible, lasting results using the best dependent on the natural world. science available and a non-confrontational • Maine’s forests and forest economy • The role of science-based decision-making in approach to craft innovative solutions to complex are experiencing significant transitions, our policy development is at risk because of conservation challenges. The Nature Conservancy in Maine with unclear implications for rural cultural and political forces, making our work 207-729-5181 ■ [email protected] communities. increasingly difficult. nature.org/maine 4 5 Conserving the Future of Forests New & Notable Projects— Spring River Acquisition: Expanding a protected block of resilient forest to more than 44,000 acres and ensuring opportunities for wildlife movement. St. John Forest Carbon: Generating a significant new revenue stream for We will work to secure a future where Maine’s diverse forests remain globally conservation while improving forest significant as an ecological resource, essential to Maine’s economy and quality of conditions on 124,000 acres. life, and valued for their contribution to carbon sequestration in a changing climate. Local Wood WORKS: An innovative partnership to support Maine’s forest economy by strengthening regional markets The Challenge Our Solution and incentives for climate friendly, local Maine is the most forested state in the nation. We seek to protect networks of resilient lands and wood products. Private stewardship has helped it remain the core waters that will conserve nature at a continental scale of the largest temperate deciduous-mixed forest through strategies and projects that allow nature to remaining in the Western Hemisphere. Its forest both adapt to, and ameliorate, climate change. Our © Ian Patterson provides diverse wildlife habitat, outstanding land conservation strategies are guided by science, These strategies include: recreation opportunities, and essential carbon including continual learning about the influences • Expanding ecological reserves and forest connectivity in five years storage, and it is vital to the health of Maine’s of forest condition on wildlife habitat, climate, and through conservation acquisitions and easements. Expected outcomes include an waterways and the Gulf of Maine. Over the last forest economies, and prioritizing the protection of • Contributing to increased total forest carbon sequestration 20 years, the Conservancy and many partners resilient and connected landscapes. additional 350,000 acres of forest as a vital climate solution. dramatically expanded permanently-conserved land permanently conserved as lands in Maine from 6% to 20% of the state. Yet • Demonstrating the benefits of forest science and part of a resilient and connected most of Maine’s forest