By preserving from development hundreds of thousands of forested acres, the state and Maine land-owners have helped protect a way of life here that embraces logging and recreation, solitude and open spaces. In addition to state donations, the money that has allowed for the purchase of development rights has come in part from the federal government, specifically the Forest Legacy program. The Senate is expected today to debate funding for that program and should support a level recommended by Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

Congress began the Forest Legacy Program as part of the Farm Bill in 1990. It has been used extensively in states that with large private tracts of land in a strictly willing-seller basis. Landowners retain the right to harvest timber; the public benefits by keeping certain areas of a state undeveloped. Last year, Maine was the largest re-ceiver of Forest Legacy money, at $10 million of the $60 million total. This year, Maine’s senators have produced a wish list of proposals that include funding for the second and far larger part, at 584,000 acres, of the West Branch project ($20 million), more than 350,000 acres of Plum Creek land ($5 million), 33,000 acres at Tumbledown Mountain near Mt. Blue State Park ($4 million) and 8,600 acres along the New Hampshire border in York County ($500,000).

To receive enough money for even some of these projects, however, is going to require a federal effort of more than last year’s $60 million. Unfortunately, the Bush administration proposed cutting the Forest Legacy budget in half, to $30 million, a decision that did prevail in the House, which restored the fund to the $60 million level. The Senate should do even more. Sens. Snowe and Collins have joined with 30 other senators in advocating for $100 million in 2002 funding for Forest Legacy. Certainly, the demand for project funding would support even more than that, but the $100 million seems to be a figure enough members of Congress are willing to agree to.

The value of Forest Legacy goes beyond just maintaining public access to privately held, working forests. The conservation easements can and increasingly are including provisions to, for instance, protect mature forests for deer and other wildlife habitat or to preserve scenic views or the expand current cutting regulations around streams. These negotiations allow Maine to establish forest policies that would otherwise be politically improbable.

To keep the projects and the easements moving forward, however, requires Congress to fund Forest Legacy at a level that ensures that a small state such as Maine receives a substantial amount of money. It still may not get enough for all its projects, but Maine stands the best chance at the level recommended by Sens. Snowe and Collins.