None The Nature Conservancy in Maine Press Releases Search All Press Releases Bruce Kidman The Nature Conservancy 207-729-5181 bkidman@tnc.org

President Bush Proposes Forest Legacy Funds

for Katahdin Forest Project

Administration requests $5 million to ensure sustainable forestry, wildlife habitat, public access for 200,000-acre conservation easement

BRUNSWICK—In his Fiscal Year 2005 budget, President George W. Bush is proposing $5 million from Forest Legacy program be allocated to support a conservation easement of some 200,000 acres around Baxter State Park, The Nature Conservancy announced today. The easement, which is part of the Katahdin Forest Project, will ensure sustainable forestry, guarantee public access for traditional uses and protect wildlife habitat. Congress must now consider the funding in its 2005 Interior budget.

“The Katahdin Forest Project safeguards public values and maintains the wood supply for Katahdin Paper,” said Kent Wommack, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Maine. “We are grateful for the President’s endorsement. To reach this point, we also owe a great deal to the support of our entire Congressional delegation.”

The Forest Legacy funds will support a conservation easement on some 200,000 acres along the western and southeastern border of Maine’s Baxter State Park. The Nature Conservancy currently holds the easement and Katahdin Paper owns the land. The federal funds will allow the Conservancy to transfer the easement to the State Department of Conservation.

"I am very pleased that President Bush has included $100 million in his FY05 Budget for the Forest Legacy Program,” said Senator Olympia Snowe. “The FLP is a perfect program for Maine as it keeps the conservation easements for managing the project lands under the oversight of elected State officials. The two Maine projects the Administration recommended for funding allow for sustainable forestry and continued public access to these lands for recreational purposes, while preserving them as some of the most special places in the State.”

“Maine’s working forests are facing some of the largest changes in land ownership in decades.  This funding will help keep our working forests working, while at the same time achieving important conservation goals,” said Senator Susan Collins.  “Securing Forest Legacy funding for the State of Maine will be one of my top environmental priorities in the coming fiscal year, in order to preserve Maine’s forestry heritage.”

The Katahdin Forest Project is an innovative 241,000-acre initiative to protect the environment and help maintain the forest-based economy of the Millinocket region. To meet these goals, the Conservancy purchased $50 million of Great Northern debt on the Millinocket and East Millinocket paper mills from John Hancock Life Insurance. The conservation group retired $14 million and refinanced the balance at less than of the note’s previous interest rate. In exchange, Great Northern Paper, then the owner of the mills, transferred 41,000 acres in the fabled Debsconeag Lakes wilderness area to the Conservancy and placed the conservation easement on 200,000 acres along the western and southeastern boundary of the Baxter State Park.

“I'm excited to see that the President has joined me in supporting the Katahdin Forest Project by including it his budget,” said Congressman Mike Michaud. “Having worked nearly all of my life at Great Northern Paper and growing up enjoying the outdoors, I understand how important this project can be.  I know that this is a project that will ensure access to land for Maine sportsmen and guarantee working forest in the Katahdin region. We need to continue creating opportunities like the Katahdin Forest Project that allow Maine's forest products industry, sportsmen, and environmentalists to come together and create jobs, protect the environment, and ensure the continuity of our way of life.”

 All of the land is open to the public for a variety of traditional recreational uses, including hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing and cross-country skiing. Camp leases within the project area are not affected.

“Maine people care deeply about protecting forest lands for future generations,” said Congressman Tom Allen.  “If approved, these federal funds would be a significant complement to funding approved by Maine voters through the Land for Maine's Future program.  I will work hard with others in Maine's delegation to make sure these funds and federal funds for similar initiatives are in the appropriations that pass Congress."

“The Baxter State Park region is world-renowned for its wilderness recreation opportunities,” said Maine Department of Conservation Commissioner Patrick K. McGowan. “The Forest Legacy funding, if approved by Congress, will not only help us provide for continued recreation, but will ensure a sustainable supply of fiber for Katahdin Paper, the region’s largest employer.”

The Forest Legacy Program is a partnership between the United States Forest Service (USFS), state governments and private landowners. It identifies and protects ecologically important forest habitat which is threatened by possible development or unsustainable practices. Program objectives are met through land acquisition or the use of conservation easements, which protect working forests while meeting important conservation goals. The Bush Administration’s requested more than $100 million in funding for the Forest Legacy Program in Fiscal Year 2005. The Forest Legacy Program budget is part of the larger Fiscal Year 2005 funding bill for the Department of the Interior and the USFS.