A multi-partner coalition concluded the six-year initiative to shield regional forestlands from fragmentation by combining state, federal, and philanthropic resources. The protected acreage spans a working forest, additions to White Mountain National Forest, and corridors stewarded by local land trusts. Crucially, the land safeguards the headwaters of the Sebago Lake watershed to maintain high water quality for over 200,000 people. It also establishes a continuous recreational trail network connecting Sunday River Resort to Mt. Abram for year-round public use.
Key points
Conserving these connected forested tracts prevents sediment runoff and protects the drin…: Conserving these connected forested tracts prevents sediment runoff and protects the drinking water supply for more than 200,000 greater Portland residents.
The property will stay accessible to the public while maintaining active timber operation…: The property will stay accessible to the public while maintaining active timber operations to preserve local forestry employment.
Outdoor recreation is significantly expanded by creating a continuous trail corridor betw…: Outdoor recreation is significantly expanded by creating a continuous trail corridor between the Sunday River Resort and Mt. Abram.
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More than 27,000 acres of forestland in western Maine have been permanently protected after a six-year conservation effort brought together environmental organisations, state agencies and local land trusts. The achievement safeguards working forests, drinking-water resources and recreational access across a landscape near Bethel that could otherwise have faced fragmentation and development. According to Maine Public, the Bangor Daily News and The Conservation Fund, the October 2026 milestone builds on an initial acquisition in 2020 and extends conservation protections across the surrounding region. The protected land includes approximately 11,000 acres at the heart of Chadbourne Tree Farm. Crucially, the agreement does not remove the forest from productive use: timber operations can continue, and the land remains accessible to the public.
A six-year effort to protect Maine’s forests
The conservation initiative began in 2020, when The Conservation Fund and the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation acquired nearly 14,900 acres of Chadbourne Tree Farm. The purchase gave conservation partners time to arrange permanent protections and prevent the property from being divided into smaller parcels for potential development.
Emergency officials have ordered immediate evacuations around Mount Mayon after a powerful eruption sent volcanic debris drifting toward nearby communities. The sudden shift into a magmatic phase introduces dangerous risks of pyroclastic currents, rockfalls, and lava flows across the surrounding slopes. Aviation authorities are steering flights away from the area as disaster agencies brace for potentially worsening conditions over the coming weeks.
Regional smoke from Indonesian forest and peatland fires has renewed pressure on Singaporean authorities, who have failed to secure a single conviction despite passing cross-border anti-pollution laws a decade ago. To dismantle foreign evidentiary barriers that have shielded offshore entities, the government is introducing urgent statutory amendments to compel targeted businesses to finance external investigations into their supply chains.
Morning rush-hour travel ground to a halt across eastern and central England as visibility dropped sharply under dense mist. The calm atmospheric pattern responsible for the low cloud is expected to linger for over a week, blocking storms from reaching the British Isles. While this ensures quiet conditions for commuters, it severely hampers ongoing efforts to replenish depleted water reserves across drought-stricken regions.