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The largest remaining undeveloped forest in the Eastern United States is at risk of being lost forever. Maine’s treasured North Woods have witnessed a rapid change in ownership that has brought with it unprecedented pressures from development to heavy harvesting. Acre by acre, from small subdivisions to massive proposals like Plum Creek’s, the remote character of this region is being eroded. NRCM is fighting to protect what makes this region unique. Now is the time to look at the North Woods as a whole and help direct its future. In-Depth Description

In-Depth Description

Maine’s North Woods are largest remaining undeveloped forest east of the Mississippi. But the landscape of the region is rapidly changing and the future is uncertain. In the last decade, there have been major land ownership changes as the paper companies sell their land to investors, real estate developers and pension funds.

Paper companies now own only about 15% of Maine’s North Woods; investors, including real estate companies (REITs), timber investment management organizations (TIMOs), and developers, own more than half of the forest. These investors may have no connection to the state of Maine and most do not plan to own the land longer than 8–12 years.

These major changes in land ownership have created challenges and opportunities.

One result of these sales has been an increase in conservation lands – primarily through easements which remove development rights but leave ownership of the land in private hands, but also through new land conservation purchases by the state and private non-profit conservation groups.

However, at the same time, recent analysis also suggests that development is occurring throughout Maine’s North Woods. Two thirds of the development which has occurred since the establishment of the Land Use Regulation Commission has occurred without any review of the location of the development, allowing “wilderness sprawl” to reach into the most remote sections of the North Woods. In addition, the largest development proposal ever proposed in the state has been proposed for the Moosehead Lake region. Development spread throughout the North Woods has serious impacts on wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities and the future of the forest products and nature-based tourism industries.

Maine’s North Woods are a significant part of Maine’s heritage, cultural identity, and forest products and nature-based tourism economies. Now is the time to look at the entire North Woods and help chart a course for the future.

NRCM has created a PowerPoint presentation that outlines the changes that are happening in the North Woods. It looks at the challenges and options we face at this crossroads. To find out how you can host a presentation in your neighborhood contact us at nrcm@nrcm.org.