© Pete Saloutos/Panoramic Images (Maine Title Image Large)

Conservation Partners in Maine
The numerous statewide federal, state and non-governmental conservation organizations listed here have joined forces to promote and implement Beginning with Habitat, Maine’s comprehensive approach to informing local land use planning and strategic conservation acquisitions. The Beginning with Habitat program is also focused on partnering with Maine’s 470 organized towns in making sustainable choices for future growth that will not only help to protect cherished rural character, but also support today’s diversity for tomorrow’s generations.
Without this strong partnership, Maine would be unable to strategically address habitat conservation, growth management, and landowner assistance.
Featured Partners
-
Beginning with Habitat
Beginning with Habitat is designed to help local decision makers create a vision for their community and to design a landscape that accommodates the growth they need with the highest resources conservation. By beginning with habitat, towns and land trusts can also preserve water quality, open space for recreation, forestry, hunting and angling.
-
Maine Natural Areas Program
The Maine Natural Areas Program, within the Department of Conservation, is a part of an international network of natural heritage programs overseen by NatureServe.
-
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
The stewards of Maine's inland fisheries and wildlife charged with preserving Maine's natural resources, outdoor heritage, economic future, wild places, and opportunities for future generations
-
Maine Audubon
Maine Audubon works to conserve Maine's wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation, and action.
-
The Nature Conservancy - Maine Field Office
The Nature Conservancy has protected over a million acres in Maine. TNC uses a strategic, science-based planning process, called Conservation by Design, which helps identify the highest-priority places -- landscapes and seascapes that, if conserved, promise to ensure biodiversity over the long term. Conservation projects are chosen based on rigorous scientific assessments of habitats at local, regional and global scales.
-
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Working closely with private landowners, partner organizations and government agencies, MCHT has conserved more than 125,000 acres in Maine.
-
USFWS Gulf of Maine Coastal Program
Gulf of Maine Coastal Program is one of 21 Coastal Program offices in the United States, established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to build partnerships to identify, protect and restore nationally significant habitat for fish, wildlife and people.
-
Maine Department of Transportation - Environmental Office
The Environmental Office proactively integrates transportation and environmental objectives and innovations as MDOT plans, develops, operates and maintains Maine's transportation needs.
-
Maine State Planning Office - Land Use Planning Program
The Maine SPO's Land Use Planning Program provides technical assistance to municipalities, advises the legislature, coordinates with other state agencies, and, in general, advocates for sound land use planning.
-
State Planning Office - Coastal Program
Administered by the State Planning Office, the Maine Coastal Program works to sustain Maine's coastal resources and maritime economy.