Governor Celebrates Next Step To Maine Woods Legacy
Press Release
Governor John E. Baldacci joined representatives of the Appalachian Mountain Club, The Nature Conservancy and others today to celebrate an important next step in building a Maine Woods Legacy. The conservation successes are the 29,500-acre Roach Ponds Tract and the 15,000-acre Moose River Landscape.
"Less than six years ago, I first spoke with you about this vision for the Maine Woods to help protect the values we in Maine have long nurtured and regarded as essential for the ecologic, economic, and cultural health of our great State," said Governor Baldacci. "Today, we celebrate the purchase and permanent protection of the 29,500-acre Roach Ponds tract by the Appalachian Mountain Club and the acquisition and protection by The Nature Conservancy of the 15,000-acre Moose River Preserve."
The Governor and Patrick K. McGowan, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, said that the acquisitions maintain the critical balance of ecological and economic needs in the Maine Woods.
The easement of the Roach Ponds Tract, held by the Maine Department of Conservation, preserves public access for traditional recreation, protects the land from development, and allows the Appalachian Mountain Club to manage the property in a way that promotes nature-based tourism in Piscataquis County and provides local jobs in the forest products industry. It is a key parcel in what is now a contiguous landscape of nearly 600,000 acres of conservation land open to public recreational use, running from Moosehead Lake to Baxter State Park.
"This gives full meaning to a vision for conserved lands in the 100-Mile Wilderness region for traditional recreational, nature-tourism and sustainably managed forestlands that I spoke of in 2003," said the Governor. "This land and surrounding region will be enjoyed by Maine's residents and visitors for generations to come. This is truly a landmark achievement and a wonderful legacy of collaboration, shared purpose and commitment to the future."
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