#Maine - #FrenchmanBayConservancy permanently marks largest conservation effort by acquiring #HeadwaterBluffs

By Sierra Dubois
Published: Jan. 15, 2026 at 12:35 PM EST|Updated: Jan. 15, 2026 at 2:17 PM EST

HANCOCK, Maine (WABI) - "The Frenchman Bay Conservancy based out of Hancock has been conserving Maine lands for 38 years.

"They’ve worked to conserve more than 25,000 acres to ensure beautiful parts of our state stay that way.

Now, they’ve expanded that conservancy with a historic move.

"Austin Schuver, the director of land protection at the Frenchman Bay Conservancy, has seen firsthand what protecting the lands, waters, and ecosystems of Maine can do.

"Not just for people to enjoy the outdoors in undeveloped land but for the wildlife to be just that, wild and free.

"Leaders in the organization have worked for over 10 years to acquire Headwater Bluffs, and now, the 5,793 acre property is permanently protected.

"It’s the largest single conservation effort in the conservancy’s history.

“ 'It’s in between the Amherst community mountain forest and Sunkhaze National Wildlife Refuge, so there’s a huge block of over 40,000 acres of conserved lands that this property is now a part of,” said Schuver.

"That 40,000 acre block of forest and wetlands is great for moose and bear and other wildlife to enjoy their natural habitat, but Schuver said it’s for the people of Maine as well.

" 'It’s a really critical time to make sure we have these large blocks of habitat, not only for the wildlife to use but for people to go hunting and to go fishing,' said Schuver.

" 'There’s rock climbing on the property. There’s all sorts of opportunities to get engaged with these landscapes, and we want to make sure those landscapes are there for not only us but future generations, too.'

"Leaders at the conservancy hope this move shows residents how important it is to take advantage of the natural resources in the Pine Tree State.

"It’s a unique gift that not everyone has access to, which is why they’re working to preserve, embrace, and show the deep connection humanity shares with nature."

Learn more:
https://www.wabi.tv/2026/01/15/frenchman-bay-conservancy-permanently-marks-largest-conservation-effort-by-acquiring-headwater-bluffs/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandConservation #SpendTimeInNature #Conservation

#Maine - The #SchoodicToSchoodic Initiative

"Together we can save one of the last places along the #EasternSeaboard where #wildlife can roam to and from rocky #shores and inland #woods seeking food and refuge.

"Seventy-five percent of Maine’s native plants and animals are vulnerable to the impacts of #ClimateChange. As temperatures warm, these threatened species will have to move significant distances to survive, but too often #development makes this impossible.

"Over the past several decades we’ve been working in partnership with #FrenchmanBayConservancy, #TheNatureConservancy, the #StateOfMaine, and other partners to conserve key 'stepping stones' of land between #DonnellPond Unit (state-conserved land surrounding #SchoodicMountain and #TunkLake) and the #SchoodicDistrict of #AcadiaNationalPark (on the #SchoodicPeninsula) to create a protected corridor for #wildlife. Through over 60 conservation projects, #MCHT and partners have conserved more than 55,000 acres from 'Schoodic to Schoodic.' MCHT has played a role in three-quarters of those projects.

"Still, the corridor is not sufficiently protected and critical lands are under threat of development."

Learn more:
https://www.mcht.org/conservation-work/initiative/the-schoodic-to-schoodic-initiative/

#SolarPunkSunday #WildlifeCorridors #MaineCoastHeritageTrust #Nature #MaineCoast #Acadia #ProtectNature