Sears Island is the largest wild island on the Eastern Seaboard, 941 acres of woods, trails, fields, tidal pools and vernal pools, all teeming with wildlife, and the only one easily accessible to the public. It has more than five miles of uninterrupted undisturbed coastline. Located less than a mile from Route 1 and linked by a causeway to the shore in Searsport, Sears Island patiently sits and waits for us to save her.

We, in Fair Play For Sears Island (FPFSI), think Sears Island should become protected public property in accordance with LMF guidelines. We are asking the governor to help us determine if Sears Island is worth saving.

We propose, as part of his statewide planning process, the governor task LMF (the wildly popular State Planning Office’s Land for Maine’s Future program) to publicly evaluate a proposal to conserve the island in its current undeveloped, natural state. Since LMF’s primary purpose is to “conserve undeveloped land in its natural state,” they seem the logical choice to assist in this unique opportunity. LMF can and should decide if Sears Island meets their standards (and our needs) and if it is worth the price.

The governor acknowledged state- level interest in this issue by establishing his statewide “fair and transparent” process to determine the future of Sears Island. The process will include all self-identified stakeholders; but it will not include any preconditions. All ideas will be on the table.

The planning has begun and the actual process is scheduled to start in May. We will be at those meetings representing the 65-75 percent of voters who favor the spirit behind LMF. We will propose Maine add Sears Island to our list of protected public lands.

And we are asking the governor to help us, as stakeholders, through his state agencies, develop the complete package necessary to submit Sears Island for consideration by LMF. The LMF evaluates proposals for new land acquisitions. They rate the land on its unique characteristics and they evaluate a land management plan (between the state and interested parties). They determine if the proposed land acquisition warrants the expenditure of public funds. (One thing our application will not include is a request for funding.) They decide which parcels of land are most worthy of protection.

There are many reasons why this process should flow through LMF. For one, Sears Island is the poster child for LMF. Sadly, due to budget constraints, the people of Maine’s appetite for land conservation has not been satisfied. We think it is LMF’s implied responsibility to try to help satisfy that hunger as best they can.

They can help by spending LMF funds wisely and by evaluating and blessing this idea whose time has come. Only after such a thorough evaluation by the experts will we know how misguided it would be to not protect the island.

This is an incredible opportunity for us to add to our protected public lands. There will never be another like it. Making this happen is what FPFSI is all about. We actively represent the voters in Maine that want to see maximum, sensible land conservation in their lifetimes.

If you are one of the 65-75 percent of voters who regularly vote to borrow money to conserve land through LMF, we need your help. Fair Play For Sears Island is conducting a letter writing campaign and we need help from those voters who “love land conservation.” We are asking citizens to write to Gov. Baldacci (governor@Maine.gov) and ask him to arrange for an LMF evaluation of our proposal and to assist us in adding Sears Island to the other gems we have in our public pocket.

Protecting it through (and in) the spirit of, LMF will not involve borrowing money, nor will it involve the less popular, paying it back with interest. The people of Maine already own it. Here is a chance for us to increase our protected public lands with a piece of property that is totally unique. It represents our very last chance to add an accessible five-mile chunk of uninterrupted natural seacoast (plus 941 acres) to our stash. We have nothing like it in our protected public holdings. Protecting Sears Island will provide people without access to sail boats or helicopters an opportunity for an authentic island experience.

Imagine how excited land conservationists would be if a piece of property like this suddenly became available from some private estate. Well, now it is not only available, but it belongs to us (and it is paid for). Think of it as a gift from those taxpayers back in 95 that paid for it. (I know that group includes me, and probably you.)

We, in FPFSI, think the governor should hear from each voter that believes in land conservation. If enough of us write, we can make this happen and, if we do, our children will be the beneficiaries. Please visit our Web site www.fairplayforsearsisland.org for more information and maybe a few chuckles.

Harlan McLaughlin is president of Fair Play For Sears Island.