Democratic gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson releases conservation plan

MAINE PUBLIC • May 29, 2026

Democratic gubernatorial primary candidate Troy Jackson unveiled a conservation plan for Maine Friday. One of his top priorities is to re-establish the Department of Conservation as a standalone agency. It merged with the Department of Agriculture under the LePage administration. A fifth-generation logger, Jackson said he'd ban aerial herbicide spraying in Maine's forests. Jackson also wants to establish a Forest Advisory Board comprised of landowners, environmental organizations, and tribal members. And he says he'd devote more funding to Land for Maine's Future. "To meet the 30% by 2030 goal, Maine must increase its rate of conservation five times over," he said.