PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 23, 2026
Maine Audubon and GrowSmart Maine advocate for land use policies that support communities where people and wildlife can thrive. We advocate for balance, clarity and impact in local, state and national land use policies. This includes local zoning, through which residents decide where they do and don’t want different types of development and how much. Our organizations support streamlining state environmental review for denser development when we build in smart places. Local zoning and thoughtful siting are some of the best ways to avoid impacts to wildlife habitat and the cost of sprawl. Growth and conservation can coexist — and they must — but we have to be smart about it. ~ Nancy Smith, GrowSmart Maine, and Francesca Gundrum, Maine Audubon