MAINE GOVERNMENT NEWS • March 7, 2022
The Lands for Maine's Future Program (LMF) today announced calls for working farmland and working forest proposals to build on earlier solicitations for conservation, recreation, water access, and working waterfront proposals. The Land for Maine's Future Program is the State’s primary method of conserving land for its natural and recreational value. Since 1987, LMF has conserved nearly 604,000 acres of land, more than half of which, 333,425 acres, has been working lands. This includes 41 farms and 9,755 acres of farmlands and 26 commercial working waterfront properties, along with 1,272 miles of shorelines of rivers, lakes and ponds, 58 miles of coastline, and 158 miles of former railroad corridors for recreational trails. Prior to a $40 million infusion through the most recent biennial budget, the LMF fund was nearly depleted.