There have been a number of recent news articles concerning the 656,000-acre West Branch Project being proposed by the state of Maine and the Forest Society of Maine. We believe the overall goals and objectives of the project are vitally important to the future of Maine and that we should not lose sight of them as the language of the easement is completed. Recent criticisms of the draft easement are a necessary part of the review process and should not undermine the basic worthiness of the effort.

The West Branch Project has a number of extremely significant elements. First, there will be state acquisition and strong ecological protection of Big Spencer Mountain, a stretch of the northern shore of Moosehead Lake and the West Branch of the Penobscot River. There will be additional acquisition in the second phase of the project as well. The proposal will prevent the development of other lake and river shorelines forever. The project will ensure that Maine people can continue to be on the property for traditional recreation. Key wildlife habitat will receive added protection from development and aggressive forestry. If current and future landowners want to conduct forest harvesting on the property, the easement will require forest management planning and will prevent liquidation harvesting.

To translate these broader conservation objectives into a legal document that is satisfactory to the interests of the state, the Forest Society and the landowner is an enormously challenging task. This project historic in both size and scope of issues. The parties to the negotiations have worked tirelessly for nearly two years to bring this project to fruition. It is appropriate to have review of a project of this magnitude to ensure that it is clearly written, legally enforceable and that it serves the public interest. It is in this context that comments on the draft easement should be considered.

We support the basic goals of the West Branch Project – to hold onto a expansive and undeveloped forested tract of land, to prevent built-up shorelines, to guard against liquidation, to safeguard important wildlife habitat, to make sure the next generation can hunt, fish, hike and explore this vast region, and to add to state ownership some wonderful jewels such as Big Spencer Mountain.

As the legal implications of access, forestry, recreation and conservation measures are debated, let us not lose sight of this particular place, its significance to our state and to the future ecological and economic health of a beautiful and historic region. We hope the parties will continue to work hard, taking into consideration additional input on the draft easement, to complete this historic project.

Karin R. Tilberg is Maine director of the Northern Forest Alliance in Augusta.