I have been one of the people who has attended each of NRCM’s seven polar plunges on East End Beach in Portland. I was there when about a dozen people raced into the icy cold Atlantic to kick off NRCM’s 50th anniversary year in 2009, and I was there for this past event when more Read More
Nature of Maine Blog
The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s “Nature of Maine” blog gives you the inside scoop on some of the latest issues facing Maine’s environment. From environmental news to threats to opportunities, NRCM is on the frontlines of the latest goings-on—and we’re often leading the charge on efforts to protect Maine’s precious lands, air, waters, and wildlife. Read what NRCM staff members have to say and get the perspective of some of our members and supporters who have been guest contributors.
Perhaps you have an issue you’d like to write about. Maybe you’re an expert on a particular topic and are inspired to share your expertise. Maybe you’ve recently made a visit to a spectacular Maine nature preserve or other natural area and would like to write about it (captioned photos welcome!). For submission guidelines, email nrcm@nrcm.org.
Snowy Owl Photos from Around the State
The Snowy Owls are back again—have you seen one? If so, please send us your photo and the location/town where you saw the owl. We would love to share your photos in our Snowy Owl photo gallery. During the winter of 2013-14, Snowy Owls moved into Maine for the winter in higher numbers than we’ve seen Read More
Best Tool in the Toolkit
As we head into the fast-approaching legislative session, with newly elected officials and so much work to be done to protect Maine’s lands and waters, I have been thinking about our various strategies to ensure success in the coming year. We are always in the process of reviewing the research, identifying emerging threats and opportunities, Read More
Senator Angus King Right on Keystone XL Pipeline
On behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, I want to express our deep appreciation for Senator Angus King’s vital vote that blocked legislation that would have allowed construction of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The pipeline would let Canadian companies pump toxic tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where Read More
The Peace of Maine
My family has a hundred-year-old cottage on Orr’s Island. It sits on a slight rise surrounded by woods and looks out at Ragged Island and the open ocean. Every day on Orr’s Island is a gift. It begins with sunrise on the ocean lighting up the sky and clouds with ever-changing colors. I love to Read More
Maine Reasons We’re Thankful
Scenic coastline and postcard-perfect coastal communities. Majestic mountains and pristine lakes. Ponds to explore. Moose, deer, loons, and other iconic wildlife. These are just some of the reasons that we are thankful to live in Maine. Traditionally, this is the time of year that we stop to consider the reasons we are thankful for what Read More
We Stand Ready: A Post-Election Message
The elections are behind us, and we face big challenges. The LePage Administration has proven hostile toward existing environmental protections for the last four years and has put up numerous roadblocks to progress. In addition, we have lost some strong advocates at the Legislature as a result of the elections. That is the bad news. Read More
The Big Picture: Leading Action on Climate Change
More and more people are coming together to work on climate change. It’s no wonder. We can plainly see changes in our lakes, forests, and backyard gardens. The number of cases of Lyme disease is exploding and many of us have had to take antibiotics because of deer tick bites. We hear on the national Read More
At the Core of Beauty and Peace: Paddling the Debsconeags
by NRCM board member Karen Herold In early July, NRCM’s Executive Director, Lisa Pohlmann, asked a friend and a couple of NRCM board members who like canoeing if we wanted to come for an end-of-summer paddle. The dates lined up effortlessly, but by mid-August we had yet to decide where to go. We batted around Read More