BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 5, 2025
Talking about conservation during times of economic stress is difficult, but how to bring more folks to support the future of Maine’s woods, waters, and wildlife assets? A concept that resonates with rural voters is the outdoors as a “second paycheck.” Going duck hunting before breakfast, going skiing or snowmobiling after dark and after work, and maybe wading into most any stream with your kids and fishing it. In Maine, where wages are often substandard, the idea that we have this precious, invaluable “second paycheck” hits home because people know it from their lives. It needs to get better framed up by the enviro-community as a real-life-asset. Big money is buying up and posting access to our woods, waters, and wildlife assets; inequality is reaching deep into what matters daily to us. We might create more support for Land for Maine’s Future Program and public lands acquisition if the threat to our “second paycheck” was a clear message. ~ Sandra Neily, Greenville