Robert H. Levin -Attorney at Law         

                                                                                                                                                                                    Conservation Stewardship Resources for Maine Landowners

             Some Maine landowners may not be ready or able to permanently protect their property through a conservation easement or an outright conveyance to a land trust or government agency, but nevertheless seek information on how to be better stewards of their land.  What follows is a list of resources on conservation stewardship for Maine landowners. 

 Soil and Water Conservation Districts

            Every county in Maine has a Soil and Water Conservation District.  These agencies provide a variety of educational services to landowners, from landowner stewardship classes to technical assistance.  A list of SWCD county offices is available at http://me.nacdnet.org/index.html. 

 Natural Resource Conservation Service

            Useful information on Backyard Conservation is available from the NRCS at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/.  In addition, NRCS administers a variety of conservation programs available for farmers under the 2002 Farm Bill. 

 University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service

            The UMCE provides a variety of services relating to Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources.  These programs include the master gardener program, home horticulture, potato and blueberry commodities, wildlife, water quality and many more.  In partnership with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, UMCE runs a Watershed Stewards Program, which trains Maine residents to identify pollution sources and help get them corrected.  See www.umaine.edu/waterquality/lakes/Stewards.htm.   A list of county offices is found at www.umext.maine.edu/counties/county.htm. 

            In addition, UMCE has also published a pamphlet entitled Gardening to Conserve Maine's Native Landscape: Plants to Use and Plants to Avoid.  This pamphlet can be found online at www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/gardenME. 

 National Wildlife Federation

            The National Wildlife Federation operates a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program.  Private landowners can certify their property as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat site.  More information, including how to purchase a starter kit and a planning guide, is available at:  http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/certifyyourhabitat.cfm.  NWF also runs a Habitat Stewards training program.  For more on how to become a habitat steward, visit http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/habitatstewards.cfm.

 Lakes Associations

            Maine is famous for its numerous lakes.  Nonprofit organizations known as Lakes Associations have sprung up over the years to protect many of the larger lakes.  These associations offer a variety of educational and stewardship programs.  To find out if there is a Lakes Association in your area, go to the Maine Congress of Lakes Association’s website at www.mainecola.org.   

 Watershed Councils

            Watershed Councils are similar to Lakes Associations, except that they are organized around river systems.  For a list of active Watershed Councils in Maine, see  www.mainesalmonrivers.org/Narraguagus/links.html. 

 Town Conservation Commissions

            Many Maine towns have Conservation Commissions.  Each Commission is different, but they often serve as a source of good information for landowners.  For more information on Conservation Commissions, visit the Maine Association of Conservation Commissions website at http://users.clinic.net/macc/ or call your local Commission.

 Maine Department of Environmental Protection

            The Department of Environmental Protection offers trainings for landowners on how to reduce nonpoint source pollution of water bodies.  For a schedule of events, see www.state.me.us/dep/blwq/training/index.htm.  DEP has also published a Citizen's Guide to Coastal Watershed Surveys and a Citizen's Guide to Lake Watershed Surveys. 

 Maine Department of Conservation

            Maine Forest Service – The Maine Forest Service is a branch of the Department of Conservation.  MFS operates the Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP), which provides three distinct types of assistance to certain forest landowners - technical, educational, and financial.  To be eligible for FLEP assistance, you must own at least 10 and no more than 1,000 acres of forestland.  Funds are available for forest management plan cost-shares of up to $10,000 annually and $25,000 cumulatively through 2007.  MFS also provides a variety of educational materials and events, some of which are available online at www.state.me.us/doc/mfs.

            Maine Natural Areas Program – The Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP), within the Maine Department of Conservation, serves Maine citizens as the most comprehensive source of information on the State's important natural features.  The Program inventories lands that support rare and endangered plants and animals, rare natural communities, and outstanding examples of representative natural communities. MNAP has a strong commitment to conserving lands in Maine that support these features.  Information on MNAP services and the natural communities types and rare plant species of Maine are available on MNAP's home page at (http://www.state.me.us/doc/nrimc/mnap/home.htm).  Also available are fact sheets on invasive plants.

 Small Woodlot Owners Association of Maine

            SWOAM offers a variety of educational programs relating to strengthening long-term woodland ownership and improving forest health for Maine landowners.  Most are open to members and non-members.  More information at www.swoam.com. 

 Maine Audubon

            In addition to hosting a steady stream of educational events and field trips, Maine Audubon has published two useful guides for Maine landowners:  the Maine Citizen's Guide for identifying and evaluating vernal pools and the Maine Citizen's Guide for Evaluating Monitoring, and Restoring Tidal Marshes.  Check them out at www.maineaudubon.org. 

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