Conservation Projects at Risk

Without Success of “Vote YES on 5 Campaign”

FALMOUTH, Maine, October 21, 2005

Concerned that “the Maine outdoors we know will slip away” without funding for local land-conservation projects, Maine Audubon executive director Kevin Carley has said that success of the Vote YES on 5 Campaign launched statewide in mid October is crucial.

The Vote YES on 5 Campaign urges Maine voters to support Question 5 on the November 8 ballot and approve a $12 million bond that will fund the Land for Maine’s Future program and also support Maine’s working waterfronts. Over nearly 20 years, the award-winning program has saved farms, kept forestlands intact, protected vulnerable wildlife habitat and provided Maine people with publicly accessible land for hiking, fishing and hunting.

But the program has distributed its last dollar, and planned conservation projects statewide are at a standstill without funds they normally could receive from the program. Among them are projects to conserve scenic waterfront along the Androscoggin River in Turner, working forestland in Hancock County, a popular mountain destination in Rumford, coastal access to Maquoit Bay in Brunswick and productive farmland in York County.

“Not funding the Land for Maine’s Future program would be a devastating blow to the values and interests of Mainers statewide,” Carley said.

George Smith, executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, also is calling for a yes vote on Question 5. “Sportsmen are losing access to the woods and waters of our state at an alarming rate,” Smith said. “If Question 5 fails, the Land for Maine's Future Program will end, and it would be years before we could ramp up a new program and obtain new funding. A whole lot of access and habitat could be lost in the meantime.”

The Land for Maine’s Future program has been called Maine’s most effective conservation initiative, helping make possible 120 land-conservation projects in all 16 Maine counties. Nearly 300 Maine businesses and organizations comprise a coalition that advocates for the program. Maine’s voters have twice supported the Land for Maine’s Future program by large margins.

A local farming family helped launch the Vote YES on 5 Campaign in mid October at their pumpkin-laden farm overlooking the Spurwink River in Cape Elizabeth. Conserved with assistance from the Land for Maine’s Future program and the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, Jordan’s Farm dates back to the early 1900s and has been owned and operated for the last 50 years by Bill Jordan, Sr. and his family. Mr. Jordan died this fall, yet his family will be able to steward the conserved land and keep it productive for many years to come.

“In all honesty, the only reason we are still in business as a family farm is because of the Land for Maine’s Future program,” Penelope “Penny” Jordan said. “For our family to help launch a campaign to educate voters about that program is a perfect tribute to my father and all of the work he put into local land conservation. The Land for Maine’s Future program is helping make sure grandchildren will know some of the same Maine traditions their parents and grandparents knew.”

Residents of southern Maine calling for a yes vote on Question 5 have raised concerns about fast-spreading sprawl on the outskirts of more and more cities and towns in the region. They are concerned that wildlife habitat is shrinking and wild plant and animal populations are at risk.

In northern Maine, a group of Mainers rallied this month to support the Vote YES on 5 Campaign at Gould’s Landing, adjacent to Caribou Bog in Orono. The bog contains a 900-acre parcel the Land for Maine’s Future program recently helped conserve as part of a larger project to protect wildlife habitat and ensure public recreation in an area planned to stretch from the Bangor Mall to the North Woods. Gail White, president of the Orono Land Trust, credited the project’s success to dedicated local volunteers who “would not have dared to dream of a vision such as this without the Land for Maine's Future program.”

Other Question 5 supporters say they fear that unless funding remains available for land conservation, changing ownership of Maine’s North Woods will result in development that permanently alters Maine’s traditional landscape of working farms and productive forestlands dotted with lakes and rivers open for public access.

"Voting yes on Question 5 on November 8 is in the best interest of all Maine citizens—not only those who love Maine’s birds and other wildlife, but those who farm, fish, hike, raft, bike, boat, hunt, snowmobile, camp. In short, all who value and benefit from Maine’s great natural heritage,” Carley said.

Question 5 on the November 8 ballot reads: "Do you favor a $12,000,000 bond issue to purchase land and conservation easements statewide from willing sellers for conservation, water access, wildlife and fish habitat, outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, farmland preservation and working waterfront preservation to be matched by at least $7,000,000 in private and public contributions?"

The Maine Land Bond Coalition represents more than 270 businesses, associations and organizations promoting funding to support the Land for Maine’s Future program. www.mainelandbond.org

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, 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 member households and donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations.

##