Election One Week Away
With November 5th fast approaching, voters across Maine and the country are being asked by one party: will America become great again? And by the other: will we save our democracy? These two questions and how they will be answered have led to much anxiety. One bright spot to focus on may be that land conservation is an issue that has historically garnered bi-partisan support. Under the current administration, we have seen historic investments to address climate change and under the previous administration the country finally made good on a decades old commitment to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. If our past is any indication, no matter the outcome in November, there will likely be opportunities to move good conservation policy forward in the years ahead.
Yes on 4
Speaking of good conservation policy, land trusts and others continue to actively promote passage of Question 4, one of five ballot measures Maine voters will decide next week. This bond initiative would invest in recreational trails throughout the state. If the question is approved, the Bureau of Parks and Lands will award $30 million over the next four years through a competitive grant process open to state agencies, municipalities, land trusts, and other organizations. Check out www.mainetrailsbond.org to learn more about Question 4, including ways you can help spread the word.
Upcoming Legislative Session
Finally, this year’s election will determine which legislators will serve during Governor Mills’ final two years in office. Regardless of the outcome, a significant priority for the land trust community in the next legislative session will be securing renewed funding for the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program. In 2021, Maine policymakers approved $40 million for LMF. As 2024 comes to an end, most of these dollars have either been invested in new projects or committed to pending ones. To date, these funds have been invested in every corner of the state to conserve more than 70,000 acres. The list of closed and pending projects includes popular outdoor recreational areas, valuable working waterfront sites, critical wildlife habitats, and productive farmlands.