Protecting Maine’s North Woods

Maine’s North Woods is a vast and beautiful place—the largest undeveloped forest left in the eastern U.S. that spans more than half the state. It is a vital ecological resource, providing habitat for a diverse array of plants and wildlife, and serving as a valuable carbon sink that absorbs climate pollution from the air.

Traditions, memories, and livelihoods are made here thanks to broad access to land, and thanks to Maine’s outdoor recreation businesses and heritage industries like forestry that it supports. But pressure on the region is growing—new vacation homes and sprawling developments are popping up. Air and water pollution are growing threats. The impacts of climate change are taking a toll. Now more than ever, we need to have a conversation about how we can work together to protect the future of this iconic landscape before it’s too late.

Why is the North Woods Special?

The North Woods is one of the last remaining primarily unfragmented temperate forests in the eastern United States. This wild landscape is filled with life including species of conservation concern. The region features major rivers and thousands of streams, remote lakes, and pristine ponds. Beyond its ecological importance, the North Woods also plays a major role in sustaining Maine’s economy and supporting local jobs in outdoor recreation and forestry.

The North Woods is primarily located within Maine’s Unorganized Territories—more than 10.4 million acres that have no local, incorporated municipal government. In place of local government, all land use planning and zoning decisions in these areas are carried out by Maine’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC). The agency, its hard-working staff, and the appointed Commissioners that ultimately vote on these decisions play a critical role in determining what resources get protected and how and where development happens.

Ecological Importance

Maine’s North Woods is home to some of the last remaining stands of older-growth forest in the eastern US. A recent report published by researchers at Our Climate Common and Tufts University mapped the locations of Late-Successional/Old- Growth Forest (LSOG) across Maine’s unorganized territories (UT). The study used LiDAR data of tree canopy height and a random forest algorithm to identify four forest classes across the Unorganized Territories. These ranged from recently cut to forests with trees between 100-200 years old.

The research group found that older growth stands now comprise only 3% of the forest in Maine’s UT. This compares to an estimate of 6% in 2003 and 70% in pre-colonial times. If current trends continue, most of Maine’s remaining older forests will disappear within 35 years.

Unique in the eastern US, the Unorganized Territories are home to remote lakes and ponds that lack any development along their shorelines. The pristine water quality found in these waterbodies supports one of the last remaining strongholds of wild, self-reproducing  eastern brook trout and Arctic charr in the country.

To categorize the resource values of the more than 1,500 lakes across the UT, the state conducted a study in 1987 to guide land use planning decisions. NRCM’s analysis of the study found that the majority of lakes and ponds (1,186) were placed in Management Class 7, which lacks any associated protective zoning. Of the 167 Class 7 waterbodies that were identified as having “outstanding” natural resources, 52 currently are undeveloped. Because undeveloped, high-value lakes and ponds are increasingly rare, NRCM is taking steps to protect them from pollution and development.

The North Woods also provides a safe home for many species of birds, mammals, fish, and insects that rely on the unfragmented nature of this region for their continued survival.

The entire North Woods region in Maine is considered a globally important bird area by the National Audubon Society, supporting hundreds of species of birds including 24 that are considered rare in the state. It also provides habitat for iconic animals like the Canada lynx, black bear, and moose. As the world faces catastrophic losses in biodiversity, protecting places like the North Woods is more important than ever to ensuring a rich diversity of plants and animals can exist for future generations.

A Region Under Threat

As Maine’s year-round and seasonal populations continue to grow, more and more people are looking to the Unorganized Territories for new development. By mapping the locations of new dwelling permits issued by the LUPC from 2009-2022, NRCM has been able to identify hotspots of development pressure.

The analysis found that the following regional outdoor recreation hubs saw some of the greatest growth in development: Rangeley Lakes, Moosehead Lake, Mount Chase, and greater Bethel. The Town of Lakeville ranked 4th in new dwelling permits, which can largely be attributed to “the expansive use of land divisions that were exempt from subdivision review.” This legacy land division, performed without oversight from the LUPC, continues to impact land use today.

As an active participant in the LUPC’s regional planning processes, NRCM has consistently pushed for economic growth in the region that focuses on strengthening existing communities and business areas. Making smart development decisions helps to support the area’s recreation and tourism-based economy without sacrificing its scenic beauty and ecological importance. Holding fast to this principle will be important when LUPC soon launches an update of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the region.

Protecting the North Woods for Future Generations

Climate change is harming delicate ecosystems and the rich biodiversity that thrives in Maine’s North Woods. Rising temperatures are disrupting growing seasons and reducing snowfall that many species have adapted to and depend on for survival. Our forests, particularly the old-growth areas, are feeling the strain and face increasing threats that could upend the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Maine’s North Woods can be a part of the solution. Old-growth forests, remote ponds, and wetlands play a vital role in pulling carbon pollution out of the air—a climate solution called carbon sequestration. Expanding land conservation opportunities and protecting the region’s ecological value is not just about protecting a beautiful place, it’s about ensuring the future of the region and what it provides to the planet.

NRCM is working with scientists, lawmakers, and regional leaders to protect the unique character of the North Woods. This session, we advanced a bill that would assign additional protections to high-value remote ponds that have not yet been developed and develop a strategy to conserve older-growth forest stands.

By protecting Maine’s North Woods, we not only protect all the rich biodiversity it supports, but also its ability to act as a buffer against climate change. Together we can ensure that the North Woods remains intact for us and for future generations.