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Locally Led Conservation Achievements

2011-05-27 - Conservation and development are typically
portrayed as a tug-of-war between opposing
forces. But they don't have to be so! Read this report to learn about the partnership of the Wayne and Readsfield Conservation Commissions, the Kennebec Land Trust, and the University of Maine at Orono.

2011-03-22 - Topsham has completed a two year volunteer project to survey vernal pools. This report tells of their experiences and reports on lessons learned for others who might consider a similar study.

2011-01-18 -Yarmouth has made a concerted effort to control a wide variety of invasive terrestrial plants on its various town-owned properties. Read more about how they are tackling this growing problem here.

2010-08-13 - Bar Harbor has gotten a lot of positive press regarding their "Dark Skies Initiative." Here's the story behind the headlines, a great example of how good conservation can support a local economy.

2010-08-12 - Over the past 15 years, the town of Topsham has made great strides in becoming a conservation minded community, in part due to the realization that
conservation supports good economic development. Read about it here.

2010-04-27 - The town of Lamoine is situated directly on top of a major aquifer, the source of all the town's drinking water. With a lot of volunteer help, the Lamoine Conservation Commission monitors the quality of that water on an ongoing basis. Read about this!

2009-12-10 - Brunswick has gone to great lengths to protect the rural character of their community. Read about how they do it in this case study.

2009-12-10 - Concern about threats to Clam Cove mobilized the Rockport Conservation Commission. Its experience is a good example of how a municipal conservation commission can have a positive impact on Maine's "quality of place."

2009-12-10 - Linking lawn care to the viability of the lobster catch was not just a catchy title, it was a concept that people in Kennebunkport could understand and respond to. Read about Kennebunkport's Lawns for Lobsters initiative.

2009-11-18 - The story behind why the Wells Conservation Commission chose its approach -- the Wells Land Bank-- and how its land acquisition continued to evolve, may help give other towns insight into how an acquisition program might work for them too.

2009-11-17 - Falmouth's open-space plan, known as The Greening of Falmouth, has been a springboard for an extraordinary effort that has made Falmouth a leader in municipal land conservation efforts.