MLTN Infoline – December 1, 2025
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Gratitude For This Community
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It’s a good time to take a moment to say how much we here at Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Maine Land Trust Network appreciate this community of dedicated land conservationists and their partners! It’s good work, even if it feels difficult sometimes, and we get to do it TOGETHER, gaining strength from each other, knowing that we accomplish more as a team than we ever could working alone. So thank you to each and every board member, staff person, volunteer, partner, consultant, and government worker who stands together to keep our woods, waters, coast, parks, and wildlife healthy and available into the future. Maine continues to be one of the most beautiful, vibrant, and natural places in the country because of YOU.
Wishing you a happy December,
Angela, Megan, Jeff, Katia, and Donna
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Legislature Hears LMF Funding Bill
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On November 14, the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee held a public hearing on LD 1312. Introduced by Senator Pierce (D-Cumberland County), LD 1312 would direct a portion of the interest income realized on the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund (aka the Rainy Day Account) toward the Land for Maine’s Future program. MCHT worked with The Nature Conservancy, the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Senator Pierce, and the Mills Administration to develop this potential new way of funding LMF. In addition to supporting LMF, the bill would direct funds to support school construction and continue to provide money so that Maine can meet its obligations related to state worker retirement benefits. The AFA Committee will be working on this bill later this month and the full legislature will take it up in 2026, as both weigh other spending and tax policy initiatives. Stay tuned in future Infolines for further updates on this proposal and information on other conservation-related bills the legislature will be taking up next year. For more information on LD 1312 or other legislation, please contact MCHT’s Policy Director Jeff Romano.
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Forests for Maine’s Fish Guides
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Maine Audubon is excited to announce two new guides for those interested in managing riparian areas to enhance their value for fish and wildlife as part of a broader landscape approach to forest management. They complement their popular Forestry for Maine Birds guides but focus on the important connections between our forests and waterways and how to enhance habitat for fish and other riparian wildlife. Forested areas along lakes, ponds, and streams, known as riparian habitats, are crucial to protecting habitat for fish and aquatic wildlife. Up to 85% of Maine vertebrate species use riparian areas at some during the year. These areas include lands adjacent to pond and lake shores, streams (including rivers), and wetlands. Riparian areas help protect water quality, provide valuable habitat for many plant and wildlife species, and serve as a buffer that minimizes disturbance of wildlife in nearby waters.
Check out the guides at Maine Audubon’s website.
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OUR SHORE Guide to Nature-Based Shoreline Stabilization Options in Maine
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The “O.U.R. S.H.O.R.E” Program is being developed to provide guidance and training for using nature-based design practices to protect against shoreline erosion. This program serves homeowners, contractors, resource managers, and community leaders, providing them with how-to information and showcases different project examples from throughout the state to successfully use nature-based designs. OUR SHORE is also an emerging network of engineers, earthwork contractors, designers, and municipal officials interested in learning and sharing these techniques in Maine. Through “O.U.R. S.H.O.R.E,” people can:
The OUR SHORE Guide to Nature-Based Shoreline Stabilization Options in Maine (PDF) – DRAFT IN DEVELOPMENT includes basic guidance on shoreline function, erosion processes in different environments, and the importance of vegetation in stabilizing soils. The guidance provides techniques and considerations to include habitat and shoreline functions into the design of any project, even when riprap is used, so the outcome over time is a naturalized and more resilient shoreline. A short list of common materials, and how to descriptions and pictures of common design practices are included. |
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Selling Conserved Farmland and Advancing Viability: A Practical Guide to the Final Stage of Buy-Protect-Sell Projects
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Available as a free PDF download
The Western Innovation Grant program supported Jefferson Land Trust’s effort to create and manage an equitable community selection process for transferring the ownership of farmland to Washington’s historically underserved farmers and ranchers as defined by US Department of Agriculture. Jefferson Land Trust built upon previous experiences of facilitating the selection of new farmers through community processes to build a replicable and dependable selection process for buy-protect-sell projects, resulting in the creation of the guidebook, Selling Conserved Farmland and Advancing Viability: A Practical Guide to the Final Stage of Buy-Protect-Sell Projects. This guidebook acknowledges that both farmland ownership and transfer in the U.S. are deeply intertwined with historical and ongoing social injustices. It aims to outline a process that allows conservation entities to interrupt the conventional real estate market — property by property — by slowing it down to make space for identifying viable, productive farmers, particularly those who have historically been excluded from land access.
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Share Your Thoughts! Town Hall for Environmental and Outdoor Education
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Virtual Event Dates/Times:
Do you work in a school or other organization (library, land trust, camp, etc.) that leads environmental or outdoor learning programs with youth? Are you an educator, youth, community member, funder, or policy-maker that is interested in environmental or outdoor learning opportunities for youth in your community? Do your programs or classes include instruction on the environment, climate change, Wabanaki studies or getting kids outdoors in general?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your input is needed on a very important conversation about the state of environmental, outdoor and place-based education in Maine.
Benefits To Participating in a Town Hall:
Click here to register!
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Together for Good: Maine’s Nonprofit Gathering
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Thursday, December 4, 2025
USM Abromson Community Education Center, Portland Cost: Pay What You Can
The purpose of this event is to tend to the roots of how we work together and to support, inspire and strengthen the heart of Maine nonprofits – the people.
This statewide event, brought to you by Maine Association of Nonprofits, is designed to connect, support, and inspire the people powering Maine’s mission-driven work. Through peer-driven conversations, reflection, and collaborative learning, attendees will explore strategies that sustain impact and build momentum for a stronger, more connected nonprofit sector. The gathering focuses on strengthening the heart of Maine’s nonprofit community.
Attend the full day or purchase a ticket for just the MANP Connects networking event from 3:00-6:00pm. More details and registration link at MANP’s website.
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2026 Adaptation Planning and Practices Online Training
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8-week online training from January 26 thru March 16, 2026
There are no registration fees for this course thanks to the support of the US Forest Service and the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub. The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) and USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub are offering an Adaptation Planning and Practices online training for forest and natural resource managers working in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) and New York. This is an interactive training to learn about climate change impacts relevant to New England and to identify customized adaptation actions appropriate to local ecosystems (rural and urban), habitats and resource areas, and with cultural perspectives. Throughout this 8-week training, participants will develop robust project-specific climate adaptation plans using the Adaptation Workbook and will receive coaching and feedback from NIACS staff in structured weekly web-based lectures and group discussion meetings. Due to limited capacity, registration is required. Learn more and register on the training webpage.
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Board Roles and Responsibilities
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Tuesday, December 9, 2025 via Zoom 9:00-10:30am
Cost: $45 for MANP members8, $65 for non-members
Discounts for teams! $25 off each additional registration from the same organization. Scholarships available!
A strong board of directors is built upon clear understanding of basic roles and responsibilities. This session will provide an overview of a board’s primary legal duties, important responsibilities and essential roles in governing the organization and stewarding its mission.
This webinar is for individuals already serving on nonprofit boards who are seeking an overview of their roles and responsibilities. Board members who have some board service experience will gain the most from participation. It is strongly suggested that multiple board members from the same organization and the executive director participate as a team for maximum benefit.
Learn more and register at MANP’s website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status.
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Once Upon a Time: How to Tell More Memorable Stories
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Wednesday, December 10, 2025 via Zoom
2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members
What makes a great story? And more importantly, what makes for great storytelling? Storytelling is one of our most important and versatile interpersonal communications methods, and no matter where you sit within your land trust, storytelling is something we all do every day. And like any skill, it’s something we should all practice.
Join Bold Bison for this highly interactive and participatory workshop where you’ll learn new techniques for engaging listeners with great storytelling and practice telling your own conservation stories to each other. Anyone who talks about the work of their land trust to friends, colleagues or decision-makers is welcome at this workshop — and that includes you! Participants will discuss classic storytelling techniques, practice everyday storytelling in small groups, and practice telling the story of your land trust.
Visit LTA’s website to learn more and register.
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Good Processes, Healthy Organizations: How to See What’s Working and What’s Missing
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Thursday, December 11, 2025 via Zoom
2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $140 for non-members When your organization’s processes are clear, fair, and well-matched to your work, everything runs more smoothly. And, people will feel safer, more included, and able to do their jobs well. When processes are missing, outdated or inconsistent, it can create confusion, frustration and extra work.
This session focuses on the Good Processes element of the Nine Metamorphic Elements of Organizational Health, Sustainability, and Resilience. You will learn a simple approach for mapping and assessing your organization’s processes so you can spot what is working, what is missing, and where to make changes.
This session will be instructed by Joy Lujan, co-principal of Metamorphic Consulting, an affiliate member of the Land Trust Alliance. Metamorphic Consulting emerged from the collaboration of Connected Realities and Solid Ground Consulting, creating a team with strong experience working with land trusts. Learn more and register at LTA’s website.
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Jobs in the Conservation Sector
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Job postings are picking up a bit. Here are the latest additions or view the full list on our website.
Connecting People with Nature Coordinator – Coastal Mountains Land Trust
Regional Steward, Washington County – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Engagement & Events Coordinator – Northeast Wilderness Trust
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Land and Water Conservation Fund
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Application Deadline: June 26, 2026
To be eligible to apply, interested applicants must first request a project eligibility assessment by completing this online form. Requests must be received by December 31, 2025 for the 2026 application grant round. Even if you aren’t sure if your community is ready to apply, the best strategy is to get this request in as a placeholder. Since 1964 Maine has funded well over nine hundred park and outdoor recreation sites across the state. This past year, the program received almost double the amount of funding than typical. If your community has been thinking about a park renovation, adding new elements to an existing park or buying land to create a new park, this next grant cycle would be a good time to apply.
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Grants and Community Recreation program for assistance and guidance during the application process.
For more information about this program, please reach out to:
Mat Henion, LWCF Grant Specialist & ASLO (207) 557-1683 or
Doug Beck, Outdoor Recreation Program Manager & SLO (207) 592-0439.
Visit the Bureau of Parks and Lands website for more information.
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