None The Nature Conservancy in Maine Press Releases Search All Press Releases Margaret Pizer The Nature Conservancy (207) 729-5181 mpizer@tnc.org

Challenge Grant to Conserve the Camden Hills

Anonymous Donor Will Match Gifts to The Nature Conservancy

CAMDEN, MAINE — July 23, 2007 — Camden, Maine – An anonymous donor has issued a challenge grant to help The Nature Conservancy raise the remaining $1 million needed to protect three parcels bordering Camden Hills State Park. The anonymous donor will match dollar for dollar (1:1) gifts to the Conservancy’s Camden Hills Project pledged between July 1 and December 1, 2007, up to a total of $500,000.

In the spring of 2006, the Conservancy purchased three tracts totaling 235 acres along the borders of the State Park. The Youngs and Cameron Mountain tracts offer hiking trails, blueberry fields, and views of Lake Megunticook, while the Great Brook parcel lies just below the summit of Bald Rock Mountain, overlooking Penobscot Bay.

“These three properties will be transferred to the Department of Conservation to become part of Camden Hills State Park,” says Michael Tetreault, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy

"Camden Hills is among our most popular state parks, and it is one we are investing in right now," said Patrick McGowan, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation. "These acquisitions will not only expand the park along three key summits, but will solve several park management concerns. Only one other park attracts more campers and only three have more day use visitors. The addition of these parcels will help park staff cope with this high visitation by providing additional access points."

The Camden Hills lie at the heart of midcoast Maine’s largest block of undeveloped forest. With the island-studded waters of Penobscot Bay to the east and the ridges and valleys of Maine’s interior rolling westward, nearly any hike in these coastal mountains provides impressive views.

“The beauty and popularity of this region has dramatically increased pressures on the natural resources that people come to enjoy,” says Scott Dickerson, Executive Director of Coastal Mountains Land Trust, which is partnering with The Nature Conservancy on this project. “Development is rapidly fragmenting habitat, and by adding acreage to the park, we’re preserving habitat for bald eagles, bobcats and fishers while protecting viewsheds for hikers in the hills and boaters in the bay and lake.”

The Conservancy must raise $3 million to cover the purchase of the three parcels. Prior to the issuing of the anonymous challenge grant, $2 million had been raised, including a grant of just over $1 million from the Land for Maine’s Future program. By raising an additional $500,000 in private donations between now and December 1st, the Conservancy will meet the challenge and fulfill its ambitious $3 million fundraising goal for this project.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.