Maine Audubon to Provide Information on Plum Creek Timber Company's Moosehead Region Resource Plan

FALMOUTH, March 8, 2005

plan for a forest- and shoreland-development project reported to be the largest in Maine's history

Maine Audubon will provide detailed comments to Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission when Plum Creek Timber Company submits its plan for a forest- and shoreland-development project reported to be the largest in Maine's history. Plum Creek Timber Company announced in December 2004 that it is developing a project plan to submit to LURC in March 2005.

The plan requests zoning changes to allow up to two "destination resorts," one large and two small commercial locations, and up to 1,000 camp lots on 14,000 acres in the Moosehead Lake region. As a conservation offset for the development, Plum Creek has proposed permanent protection on approximately 175 miles of shoreline totaling 10,500 acres as well as a 30-year forest management plan (renewable by LURC) on approximately 400,000 acres of forest.

Because Plum Creek's large-scale plan would set a significant precedent for the future of the Maine woods and would widely affect wildlife and wildlife habitat, Maine Audubon is committed to ensuring the project balances development and conservation.

After Plum Creek submits its complete application to LURC, Maine Audubon will submit comments on the plan and fully participate in the permit review process. Among the factors to be considered are the number and location of new lots and other developments, the location and extent of existing development, and the adequacy of long-term conservation measures, which are required by LURC to balance the proposed development. In particular, Maine Audubon will be evaluating how this scale of development in the northern forest will fragment or eliminate wildlife habitat and affect rare, threatened, or endangered species.

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action.

With a 160-year history of connecting people with nature, Maine Audubon today is affiliated with Audubon’s national organization and has seven local chapters in the state. Support for Maine Audubon comes from 11,000 members and supporters.

For more information or to become a member of Maine Audubon, call (207) 781-2330 or click here.

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