Maine's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
A requirement of the State Wildlife Grant Program
Download a copy of Maine's Plan
Wildlife in Maine
Maine is a land rich in contrasts between the boreal and temperate,
freshwater and saltwater, upland and wetland, and alpine and lowlands. The state has enormous natural variety and owes its biological wealth to its 17.5 million acres of vast forests, rugged mountains, more than 5,600 lakes and ponds, 5,000,000 acres of wetlands, 31,800 mi of rivers and streams, 4,100 mi of bold coastline, and 4,613 coastal islands and ledges. Maine is the most heavily forested state in the nation, but also contains some of the most significant grassland and agricultural lands in the Northeast.
This mosaic of diverse physical settings supports a wide diversity of wildlife that can be equaled in few other states. Maine has the largest population of bald eagles in the Northeast. The state's islands support one of the most diverse nesting seabird populations on the East coast, including habitat for rare species such as the Roseate and Arctic Tern, Atlantic Puffin, and Razorbill Auk. Maine's relatively clean, free-flowing rivers sustain some of the best remaining populations of rare freshwater mussels and dragonflies in the East; host globally rare endemics, such as the Tomah mayfly (Siphlonisca aerodromia) and Roaring Brook mayfly (Epeorus frisoni) and support the recently listed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in seven downeast rivers. Maine's mountains and forested habitats contribute significantly to the global breeding habitat for neotropical migrants such as Bicknell's Thrush and Blackthroated-blue Warbler. The state has some of the best examples of pitch pine-scrub oak forest remaining in New England, hosting a suite of globally rare plants and invertebrates.
State Wildlife Grant Program
Congress created the State Wildlife Grant Program (SWG) in 2001 to help state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies protect and manage wildlife species in greatest conservation need. Funds appropriated under the State Wildlife Grants program are allocated to states according to a formula that takes into account each state's size and population.
Since 2001, Maine has received nearly $2.5 million in SWG funds to support work on many of the state's rare, threatened, endangered, and nongame wildlife. Projects funded to date (PDF) are diverse, covering many species groups, all geographic areas of the state, and ranging in scale from ecosystems to subspecies. They vary in length from one to five years, and include baseline surveys, research, and habitat conservation.
Maine's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
To be eligible for additional federal grants and to satisfy requirements for participating in the State Wildlife Grant program, Congress has charged each of the 56 States and Territories with developing a statewide Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS or Strategy). Strategies will provide a foundation for the future of wildlife conservation and a stimulus to engage the States, federal agencies, and other conservation partners to strategically think about their individual and coordinated roles in prioritizing conservation efforts.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Maine Department of Marine Resources (off-site) are leading this effort in partnership with a number of conservation groups and organizations including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (off-site), Maine Natural Areas Program (off-site), Maine Audubon (off-site), The Nature Conservancy (off-site), Forest Society of Maine (off-site), and many others. The goal is to create a vision for conserving the States' wildlife, not just developing agency plans.
While each State's strategy will reflect a different set of issues, management needs, and priorities, states are working together to ensure nationwide consistency and a common focus. These efforts are being coordinated through the Teaming With Wildlife Committee (off-site) and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) at the regional and national level. To remain eligible for State Wildlife Grant funding, State strategies must be submitted to the National Advisory Acceptance Team (NAAT) for review and approval by October 1, 2005.
Maine's CWCS addresses the full array of wildlife and their habitats in Maine including vertebrates and invertebrates in aquatic (freshwater, estuarine, and marine) and terrestrial habitats. Wildlife is defined as any species of wild, free-ranging fauna including fish. Our plan builds on a species planning effort ongoing in Maine since 1968; a landscape approach to habitat conservation, Beginning with Habitat (off-site), initiated in 2000; and a long history of public involvement and collaboration among conservation partners. This Strategy covers the entire state, from the dramatic coastline to the heights of Mt. Katahdin and is meant to be dynamic, responsive, and adaptive.
For more information on the State Wildlife Grant Program, please contact:
Sandy Ritchie
Maine's CWCS Coordinator
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
41 State House Station, 284 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0041
Phone: 207-287-5265
Fax: 207-287-6395
Email: sandy.ritchie@maine.gov
