Betsy Cook is Maine state director of Trust for Public Land, the national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. Jenny Kordick is the executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands, a nonprofit trade association with more than 200 active members that is focused on uniting, growing and giving a voice to the state’s outdoor recreation industry. 

As a remarkable winter of outdoor recreation comes to a close, there’s new urgency around the places where Mainers play, gather and connect with nature.

Because while it’s well known that our publicly accessible lands and waters are a proven ingredient in building healthy lives, healthy communities and a healthy economy, our state’s most effective tool for bringing more of these benefits to more Mainers has run dry. 

Launched in 1987, Land for Maine’s Future has been a truly nonpartisan success story, protecting more than 300 places for their natural and recreational values in all 16 of Maine’s counties. 

Land for Maine’s Future has conserved more than 600,000 acres since its creation, including vibrant mountainscapes like Mt. Blue State Park and Tumbledown Mountain, popular community forests in Rumford and Bethel, essential parks such as Portland’s North Deering Park and beloved seaside destinations such as Higgins Beach and Ferry Beach.

Yet despite its lengthy list of past accomplishments, our state’s funding commitment to this proven tool is far from meeting the need. Land for Maine’s Future was last funded in 2021 after nearly a decade of inactivity and all the funding from 2021 has already been allocated to a backlog of projects. 

While there are multiple proposals currently in our Legislature that will fund Land for Maine’s Future at some level, none of them will come to fruition without our broad and vocal support. Loss of this important tool will be a loss for all Mainers.

Land for Maine’s Future has a unique and proven ability to deliver real, lasting value to communities of all sizes. One part of that value is its flexibility, as it’s capable of supporting a wide range of endeavors including protecting public access to the Maine coast and working waterfronts; preserving recreational trails for hiking, skiing and snowmobiling; and supporting the goals of climate resilience in Maine’s Climate Action Plan. 

The other significant value of Land for Maine’s Future’s value is economic. Public lands and waters have long been the foundation for our state’s outdoor recreation sector, which contributes $3.9 billion to our state’s economy and provides more than 32,000 jobs. 

This vibrant business community includes hundreds of companies of all sizes, including destinations, retailers, manufacturers, guides, designers, storytellers and much more. And it’s ripe for further growth, as detailed in the Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap, a comprehensive 10-year plan centered on bringing the many positive economic benefits of outdoor recreation to more Mainers in more places.

Yet to further grow and enjoy the successes of Maine’s outdoor recreation economy, we have to acknowledge that its existence is deeply intertwined with the presence of high-quality public lands and waters in our state. Their steady presence is what gives rural communities the confidence to staff their restaurants and hotels in advance of a busy summer season.

It’s what inspires our outdoor manufacturers to design and sell the best gear in the world for winter adventures. It’s what drives real estate sales from the western mountains to the coast, and it’s what continues to attract new residents and visitors to our state. Yet 80% of Maine’s lands and waters are unprotected, with no guaranteed public access. 

For the growth of our outdoor recreation economy and for the benefit of our communities statewide, the time is now to make our voices heard in support of Land for Maine’s Future — a proven tool with a lengthy track record of success and the unique ability to deliver long-term economic benefits to all corners of our state. Because as we care for the places we have and create the ones we need, we’re building a lasting foundation of health and success for all Mainers.