30x30 Conservation Initiative

Meeting the growing threats to Midcoast Maine through passionate focus on increasing the acres of conserved land, and expanding water quality programs by 2030.

OVERVIEW

Our mission at Midcoast Conservancy is to protect and restore the vital lands and waters of midcoast Maine on a scale that matters. Currently, we have protected over 16,000 acres through direct acquisition and conservation easements with landowners.  Midcoast Conservancy’s service area is roughly 500 square miles covering the Sheepscot River, Damariscotta Lake, and Medomak River watersheds. 

In 2021, Midcoast Conservancy launched the 30x30 Land and Water Conservation Initiative aligned with the Biden Administration's 30x30 initiative, part of the broader "America the Beautiful" effort, which aimed to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, focusing on local, voluntary, and inclusive conservation. Our aspirational goal related to current conservation efforts helps contribute significantly to protecting and restoring the vital lands and waters of the midcoast, to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and ensure the quality of life our residents and communities deserve.

Now is the time to develop and pursue locally-led strategies to protect, restore, and connect the lands, waters, and wildlife upon which we all depend. The most effective and enduring conservation strategies are those that reflect the priorities, needs, and perspectives of the families and communities that know, live and work on, and care for the lands and waters; are scientifically sound; build trust in communities; and improve access for hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, and other forms of outdoor recreation.

In January of 2021 we convened 20 of the top environmental experts in the region to utilize the vast amount of existing analyses and data to establish ‘focus areas’ and corridors in the midcoast region that must be protected in some form to maintain ecological integrity and biodiversity and provide connectivity across the landscape and protections from the impacts of climate change. The result of those convenings are found in the maps below, and technical report.