Testimony in Opposition to LD 1685, An Act to Increase Acreage Eligibility and Change Requirements for Filing Plans Under the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law Senator Grohoski, Representative Perry, and members of the Committee on Taxation, I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I appreciate the Read More
forests
LD 341, An Act to Amend the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law to Encourage Housing Construction
Testimony in Opposition to LD 341, An Act to Amend the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law to Encourage Housing Construction Senator Grohoski, Representative Perry, and members of the Committee on Taxation, I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony Read More
LD 993, An Act to Facilitate Stakeholder Input Regarding Forest Policy in Maine
Testimony in Support of LD 993, An Act to Facilitate Stakeholder Input Regarding Forest Policy in Maine Senator Ingwersen, Representative Pluecker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I appreciate the opportunity to Read More
The ASMR of Forest Bathing
Have you ever found yourself out in the woods and noticed a deep sense of feeling fully present in your body, the moment, and your surroundings? Some examples include: your heart beating in your ears, hands and legs scraping against rock, as you pull yourself over the crux, followed by a whisper of gratitude to Read More
Expansion of Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
A bill that will expand the Maine Ecological Reserve System and thereby better protect the state’s natural habitats and resources was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on March 29th, 2022. This law, titled An Act To Enhance the Ecological Reserve System, enables Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) to add to its Read More
New Poll: Maine Voters Want CMP to Stop Corridor Cutting, Support DEP Suspending Permit
November 17, 2021 (Augusta, ME) — A new public opinion survey completed since Election Day shows that most Maine voters want Central Maine Power (CMP) to stop all clearing of trees in western Maine to honor the will of Maine voters. A strong majority also supports having the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) order Read More
Why Do Forests Matter for Birds?
We know you know that forests are incredibly important for birds. You learned in school (we hope!) that they provide homes for birds, and provide the food they need to raise young and for successful travels to and from their breeding and wintering grounds. If you’ve hiked in a forest, or paddled a stream or river Read More
Opposition to LD 1407, An Act To Provide That a Forestry Operation That Conforms to Accepted Practices May Not Be Declared a Nuisance
Senator Dill, Representative O’Neil, and Members of the Committee. I am Melanie Sturm, the Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and I appreciate the opportunity to testify in opposition to LD 1407. LD 1407 is similar to laws that other U.S. states have passed, but different in important ways that Read More
Conservation Groups Move to Add U.S. Department of Energy to CMP Corridor Lawsuit
News release from Natural Resources Council of Maine, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Sierra Club Maine March 29, 2021 (Augusta, ME) – Three of Maine’s largest conservation groups have moved to add the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to their lawsuit challenging the flawed federal permits that were granted to Central Maine Power (CMP) for its Read More
