Nearly 80,000 Acres in Western Maine Permanently Protected

Nearly 80,000 acres of land and water in western Maine will now be permanently protected following the completion of one of the largest collaborative conservation projects in the state’s history.

According to WGME, the newly protected area is located north of Rangeley and includes forests, rivers, streams and important wildlife habitat. The effort was organized through the Magalloway Collaborative, a partnership formed by four conservation groups that spent years working together to preserve the region.

The project includes more than 11,000 acres that will be protected as a wilderness preserve, helping maintain large areas of undeveloped forest for future generations. Another 4,400 acres will undergo habitat restoration designed to support wildlife and improve the overall health of the ecosystem.

The agreement also protects approximately 170 miles of high-priority rivers and streams that provide important habitat for native brook trout. Western Maine is known for its cold-water fisheries, and conservationists say protecting the surrounding forests and waterways is essential to maintaining healthy trout populations, the news station reported.

In addition, more than 62,000 acres will remain working forest. That designation allows the land to continue supporting Maine’s forest-products economy while preventing future development and protecting the region’s natural character.

Supporters say the project shows how conservation organizations, landowners and local interests can work together to protect environmentally significant land without completely removing it from productive use.

According to WGME, the Magalloway region is known for its remote forests, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities. The new protections are intended to preserve those resources while ensuring the land remains available for responsible forestry, recreation and conservation well into the future.