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About
Maine’s Beginning with Habitat program is an award-winning, first-in-the-nation effort that has been recommended as a model in all 50 states.
Founded in 2000, the program consolidates wildlife and habitat information from public agencies and private conservation organizations all over the state and packages it up for local planners, municipal leaders, landowners, and other interested citizens.
This information is also vital for communities preparing for a changing climate.
Meet Our Team
Amanda Cross
Program Coordinator
(207) 592-4967
Amanda.S.Cross@maine.gov
Amanda provides overall program supervision, technical assistance, and meeting facilitation support.
Michele Warner
Cartographer
(207) 287-5258
Michele.A.Warner@maine.gov
Michele creates and maintains BwH maps, manages spatial data, and provides technical assistance and GIS support to users.
Joe Roy
Private Lands Wildlife Biologist
(207) 592-3344
Joseph.Roy@maine.gov
Joe provides technical assistance to landowners, foresters, and other service providers managing land for at-risk fish and wildlife.
Our Partners Include
What We Do
We use our collaborative resources, including data-rich habitat maps, a wide range of biological and planning expertise, and proven conservation strategies, to help municipalities, land trusts, and landowners make informed plans.
Conservation Strategies
We have compiled some of the best conservation practices employed by towns, land trusts, and landowners throughout the State of Maine. Learn from their success and contact BwH to discuss the right approach for you.
Strategies for Municipalities Strategies for Land Trusts Strategies for Landowners
Mapping Ecological Significance
With our partners, BwH has developed a list of 140 Focus Areas of Statewide Ecological Significance, which are areas throughout the state that contain unusually rich concentrations of at-risk species and habitats and across multiple towns. We incorporate these areas into regional maps and develop helpful fact sheets for each one. Learn more about BwH focus areas and search for ones near you.
Success Stories
By getting involved in the early stages, Beginning with Habitat can help communities grow without sacrificing irreplaceable resources, and help landowners balance their wildlife goals with their other land uses.
Municipality Case Studies Land Trust Case Studies Landowner Case Studies