Nature Conservancy and Logging Contractor H.C. Haynes Find Balance Between Commerce and Conservation
Nearly 10,000 acres to be conserved along Spring River
and the West Branch of Narraguagus River
BRUNSWICK—
Balancing commerce and conservation, The Nature Conservancy and one of Maine’s most active logging contractors, H.C. Haynes Inc., reached an agreement to conserve nearly 10,000 acres and more than 12 miles along Spring River and the West Branch of the Narraguagus River. The property, known as the Spring River block, abuts the state’s Donnell Pond Unit, and would create a 24,000-acre swath of conservation land in Hancock County. The agreement marks the first time the Conservancy and H.C. Haynes, a Winn-based company, have worked together for forest protection.
"We had wanted to purchase this site because it came up high when our conservation scientists set priorities for northern Maine, but H.C. Haynes got there first," said Kent Wommack, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy. "We decided to see if we could still protect the most critical habitats. Herb and Jay Haynes were willing to listen, and we set out to balance habitat protection with the bottom-line needs of the landowner."
In the end, H.C. Haynes agreed to leave 60 percent more standing timber in areas it is harvesting, and to avoid some of the most sensitive habitats entirely. The company will not harvest 1,300 acres of critical habitat, including a 500-foot buffer along Spring River and the West Branch of the Narraguagus River - which provide key Atlantic salmon spawning and rearing habitat - along Narraguagus Lake, the Anderson Pond watershed and the Dog Brook wetland complex. The Nature Conservancy holds a long-term option to acquire the entire parcel in December of 2005, provided the conservation organization can raise $2.2 million to complete the project.
"We're committed to honoring the terms of the agreement," said Herb Haynes, President of H.C. Haynes Inc. "This is a great opportunity to balance economic concerns with forest conservation. In this case, we're able to manage this property in the short-term and help conserve it for the long-term. We enjoyed working with The Nature Conservancy and look forward to the opportunity to work together again in the future."
After the transaction is complete, the Conservancy, working with the local community, leaseholders and other stakeholders, will manage the property as an ecological reserve and provide public access for hiking, canoeing, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other compatible pursuits.
"Protection of the critical buffer zones along the river is a main component of our strategy for recovery of the endangered salmon and these buffers are equally important for most other fish and wildlife," said Dwayne Shaw, Executive Director of Downeast Rivers Land Trust. "We will certainly encourage local participation in the future management of these lands because these kinds of partnerships seem to be the best possible solution to an increasingly volatile lumber and real estate market and provide a real win-win for the landowners and public alike."
The Spring River property is one of 14 separate parcels H.C. Haynes purchased from International Paper as part of a 45,000-acre acquisition in the fall of 2000. Beyond its obvious conservation value, this project represents the first opportunity for the Conservancy to work with H.C. Haynes, Inc., an enterprise active in purchasing and harvesting forestlands in northern and eastern Maine.
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