Fact Sheet

Update

Maine Audubon's 2007 Legislative Agenda

Replenish the Land for Maine’s Future Program

Conserve Special Places & Bolster Maine’s Economy

The Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program is Maine’s most popular outdoor program. But LMF has committed all of its conservation and farmland dollars. It’s time to replenish the Land for Maine’s Future fund to ensure that LMF continues to work for all of Maine.

LMF Has an Outstanding Record

Conserved over 440,000 acres, all from willing sellers.
Guaranteed public access for fishing, hunting, trapping.
Protected over 919 miles of shorefront, 113 miles of rail-trails and over 5,800 acres of farmland.
Conserved land in every county and corner of Maine.
Secured forever mountain summits, salt marshes, rivers, lakes, ponds, farms, forests and shorelines.
Leveraged nearly $100 million dollars of federal and private matching funds.
Visit the Project Center at www.maine.gov/spo/lmf.

LMF Works for Maine People

Keeps Maine’s farms and forests productive with conservation easements that maintain land in private ownership.
Serves all Maine citizens – those who fish, hike, farm, raft, bike, boat, hunt, snowmobile, camp and picnic.
Adheres to a strict appraisal review process and stringent guidelines.
Works collaboratively with local communities, state agencies and Maine citizens.
Administered by a Board comprised of six private citizens and the five State Natural Resource Agency Commissioners – all confirmed by the Maine Legislature.

Maine Needs LMF Now More Than Ever

Subdivision and sale of forestland, loss of family farms and sprawl threaten Maine people’s livelihood and way of life.
Maine’s economy is based on protecting its quality of place. The Brookings Report calls for renewed and consistent funding for LMF.
LMF cannot help Maine citizens and towns with their critical conservation needs until LMF funding is replenished.
Access for recreational users is routinely being cut off across Maine.

Maine People Support LMF

Voters have overwhelmingly passed LMF bonds of $35 million, $50 million and $12 million, in 1987, 1999 and 2005 respectively.
Municipalities invest their own tax dollars in support of LMF projects.
Democratic and Republican legislators consistently show strong support for LMF.
Year after year, a broad and diverse coalition has supported LMF.