I am an avid hunter and angler, and I am also a fierce environmentalist. I believe there is no reason why sportsmen and sportswomen need to be a mutually exclusive group from the environmental movement and alliance. I was lucky enough to be raised by very progressive parents in the 90s and 2000s who taught Read More
land conservation
LD 1969, An Act to Expand the Use of Funds to Support Land Conservation
Testimony in Support of LD 1969, An Act to Expand the Use of Funds to Support Land Conservation 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). I appreciate the opportunity to Read More
LD 1685, Increase Acreage Eligibility and Change Requirements for Maine Tree Growth Tax
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
LD 1227, Balance Renewable Energy Development with Natural and Working Lands Conservation
Testimony in Support of LD 1227, An Act to Balance Renewable Energy Development with Natural and Working Lands Conservation Senator Ingwersen, Representative Pluecker, Members of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. My name is Jack Shapiro, I am the Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. NRCM has been working Read More
LD 1285, An Act to Extend Funding for the Land for Maine’s Future Program
Testimony in Support of LD 1285, An Act to Extend Funding for the Land for Maine’s Future Program 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). I appreciate the opportunity to Read More
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
Clarry Hill: Exemplary Birding, Extraordinary Opportunity
Some places are special for all sorts of reasons. Take Clarry Hill in Union. Its high elevation provides spectacular views of the Camden Hills, glimpses of Muscongus Bay, and acres upon acres of lowbush blueberries that are highly valuable to local jobs and Maine’s economy. These lands are also important for countless species of birds. Read More
New Zoning Plan Charts Positive Path Forward for Maine’s Moosehead Region
Thousands of visitors and residents are drawn to Maine’s Moosehead Lake region every year to experience the spectacular clean waters, forests, and wildlife. The Plum Creek proposal in the early 2000s threatened to damage that unique character with sprawling development and was met with intense opposition. Eventually, the landowner, Weyerhaeuser, withdrew the plan in 2020. Read More
Covering the Climate Crisis at The Maine Monitor
A half century ago, I marked Earth Day by cleaning up trash around our small apartment in Illinois and putting up handmade signs at the local train station urging people to find a “solution” for the “pollution.” The public’s concern over what we called the “ecology” was largely punctuated by photos of oil-soaked sea birds Read More