AUGUSTA — The Family Planning Association of Maine plans to train doctors to perform abortions as part of a new initiative that includes educating the public about emergency contraception.

The program, the Institute for Reproductive Health, was announced Sunday night at the nonprofit association’s 25th anniversary membership and awards dinner in South Portland.

The association said its training program is intended to improve accessibility to abortion services statewide and decrease the chances that any one physician will be targeted by anti-abortion protesters.

The Maine Right to Life Committee criticized the plan, saying a steady decline in the number of abortions performed in Maine in recent years belies the need to train additional doctors.

“There isn’t a demonstrated need for this as much as there is an interest in promoting and advocating for abortion on the part of the Family Planning Association,” said Margaret Yates of East Wilton, the committee president.

Two Rockport doctors stopped performing abortions two years ago, citing threats by anti-abortion protesters. A Falmouth doctor closed his office, saying that he, too, felt threatened.

“The severely limited number of providers creates a particularly tough burden — emotionally and financially — for low-income women and teens. To compound the problem, many physicians now providing services are near retirement and younger doctors have few opportunities to obtain training,” the Family Planning Association said.

Noting that there are now no abortion providers in central Maine who regularly accept abortion referrals, the group said all but five of the 241 women in Kennebec County who sought abortions in 1994 had to travel outside the county.

Yates of the Right to Life Committee said virtually all women in Maine were within two hours of an abortion provider.

“Our perspective is that training people to do abortions and promoting abortions increases abortions. We’re really interested in seeking alternatives to abortion, such as adoption,” Yates said.

The Family Planning Association said it also will promote the availability of emergency contraceptive pills as a way to prevent pregnancy when taken 72 hours after contraceptive failure.

The association said its new services will represent only 5 percent of its overall efforts, which focus on prevention of unintended pregnancies and education on sexuality and family planning.