AUGUSTA - A bill to support Maine's ecological reserve system, LD 736, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, was recently signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills.
As defined in statute, an ecological reserve is an area of land owned or leased by Maine that is focused on protecting and preserving ecosystems and biodiversity. Popular destinations in the system include the Bigelows, the Mahoosucs, Cutler Coast, Chamberlain Lake and Nahmakanta. Ecological reserves may be best known for the superb recreational experiences they offer, but they are also utilized by researchers who track changes to Maine's environment and educate the public on their findings.
The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands will soon reach the maximum amount of land that it is statutorily allowed to conserve in this system, though it does not yet contain a sample of all ecosystem types in Maine. Grohoski's bill proposed to expand the system so that it would reach its full potential as envisioned in 1999 when it was established.
An amended proposal, supported unanimously by the Legislature's Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, increases the caps restricting Maine's ecological reserve system to better reflect the states dedication to environmental protection and low-impact use.
"This law will help us protect all the different types of lands that make Maine so unique," said Grohoski. "Further, it builds upon our decades-long endeavor of stewarding our natural environment for the enjoyment of generations to come."
Grohoski, a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives. She represents the communities of Ellsworth and Trenton.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Grohoski], c. 812-1111