Press Release
By: Dana K. Lee, Town Manager, February 12, 2009
The Poland Conservation Commission invites one and all to “Beginning with Habitat,” a forum to be held at the Poland Town Hall on Thursday, March 26th at 7:00 PM.
Where will you be able to hunt, cross-country ski, fish or simply look for wild flowers in 2015 or in 2030? Poland has continued to experience growth and development pressures. As private rural lands are split up and developed, and traditional access and opportunity for outdoor recreation becomes increasingly scarce, we incrementally lose Maine’s most promising economic advantage “Quality of Place” that will determine our future prosperity as a state. Each and every local land use decision has implications for local flora and fauna and resource opportunities available to the next generation. Knowledge of our local natural resources is a critical first step when developing plans to protect our rural character and our town’s quality of place. To that end, the town of Poland’s
Conservation Commission will bring Inland Fisheries and Wildlife speaker, Steve Walker to discuss the tools available to mesh future growth with conservation of key habitats.
Beginning with Habitat is a unique partnership of private and government groups whose focus is the natural landscape. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine Natural Areas program, the State Planning Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Audubon Society, and other organizations have come together to help towns plan for their future. The Beginning with Habitat program assisted nearly 2000 towns to date.
Molly Docherty, director of the Maine Natural Areas Program, one of the sponsors of the program says, "The goal here is to balance growth with the protection of natural resources for wildlife, recreation, sustainable forestry, and agriculture".
Residents are invited to view large scale maps of Poland that will be available at the meeting and to ask questions of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists familiar with local planning and conservation issues.
Note to Editor: This website provides some background information:
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