Cover photo:Maine Woods; photo credit to Denise via Flickr CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0
Henry David Thoreau, who wrote The Maine Woods nearly a century ago, called for the preservation a wilderness area that had provided him with many revelations about nature. Although the woods he explored have seen a lot of changes over the years, their untamed rivers, rich biodiversity and extensive forests remain as spectacular as they were in Thoreau’s time.
The proposed Maine Woods National ParkThe area would be 3.2 million acres larger than Yellowstone National Parks and Yosemite National Parks. This area is still the largest unprotected wilderness in the Eastern United States. It is difficult to imagine such a large area of undeveloped land east of the Mississippi. It is a rare gem that has stood up to the pressures of expansion, settlement, and other human activities. It is becoming increasingly difficult to preserve these amazing forests and protect endangered species. It is urgently necessary to upgrade these woods to national park status in order to protect them from further logging and development.
The park, which is located in the center of Maine, would occupy approximately 15% of the state’s total land area. This park trails Death Valley National Park as America’s largest national park. This large area would include vast amounts of forest land as well as the headwaters for five major rivers: Penobscot, Allagash and Aroostook. This diversity offers many recreational options: canoeing/fishing, photography, rafting, cross-country skiing, and fishing.
Thoreau’s time, much of the native wildlife still lives in Maine’s Northern Woods. However overhunting, logging and development have caused many to lose their habitats. Wolves, cougars, and other large predators have been expelled from the region for a long time, while other species like the Canada lynx and Atlantic salmon are listed as endangered or threatened. The region is still home to a lot of biodiversity. Black bears, beavers, and moose are just a few of the many wildlife you might see in this area. signature bird speciesThese include the boreal chickadee and black-backed woodpecker.
Bull moose; photo credit to Lois Smith via Flickr, CC BY–NC 2.0
Because Maine is located between the boreal region of Canada and broadleaf forest of the United States, the Northern Woods house a mix evergreen and deciduous tree species. Unfortunately, logging companies have selectively destroyed a lot of hardwood trees, including maples, beeches, and birches, in order to encourage the growth of softwood trees (spruces, firs), because they are more valuable. These selective manipulations have negative ecological consequences. Hardwood trees can be endangered by these selective manipulations. Carbon is stored at least 20% higher than in softwoods.
Forests cover 90% of MaineThe highest percentage of any state it has the potential to counter climate change as an important carbon sink. We must preserve every natural solution to climate changes in the face of the current global warming crisis. The Maine Woods National Park would ban the logging of forests within its boundaries. This would protect our trees and our future.
Hardwood and softwood forest on the Maine coast; photo credit to Susan Bell via Flickr CC-BY 2.0
For the past 20 years, talk of Maine Woods National Park has been around. However, some progress towards that goal was only made in 2016. This year, Roxanne QuimbyThe federal government acquired the ownership of the Maine land she owned in Maine, which she had been a dedicated environmentalist and founder Burts Bees natural cosmetics company. President Barack Obama used his executive authority under Antiquities Act to designate this land as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
Quimby had originally hoped that her contribution would be the impetus to the establishment of Maine Woods National Park. However, it was stopped by congressional and local resistance. However, the creation of the monument has been successful. It is a great successThis is a great starting point for a national park upgrade that would include more than 3 million acres.
Why is a national parks designation important? The state of Maine cannot do much to protect this vast area. A Maine Woods National Park would provide protections for forests, watersheds, and wildlife, increase opportunities for backcountry recreation, and boost regional economies. The Northern Woods is one of the last undeveloped and unprotected areas left in the Northeast. It’s time to change this. To let Congress know that we are ready to support the Maine Woods National Park, we will need the support from all Americans.
Holly Eberhard, an intern at Environment America, co-authored this blog.
