The availability of large tracts of land in the north Maine woods and the possible purchase and development of these lands by real estate developers is a source of concern to many. The effect that the sale of Maine land will have on natural areas and wilderness in Maine are unknown.

    The AMC's Maine Chapter December 3rd Forum on Land Protection will present a panel of experts in the field of land preservation who will address issues such as how best to preserve wilderness areas, the role of public and private entities in land preservation, and how best to assure public access for recreation while maintaining the very features that make the wilderness areas in Maine so appealing. Panel members include:

Karin Tilberg, Bob Cummings, Dean Bennett, Tim Glidden and Sam Merrill, facilitator. 

Karin Tilberg, the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Conservation, is the former Maine director and interim executive director of the Northern Forest Alliance. In her position with the NFA Karin promoted their vision for the conservation of wildlands and sustainable forestry. She is an attorney who has practiced in the area of conservation and environmental law. A former staff attorney for the Maine Audubon Society Karin has taught at the University of Maine School of Law. She is an avid outdoors person and poet. 

Bob Cummings, a member of the executive committees of the Appalachian Mountain Club Maine Chapter and the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, edits newsletters for both organizations. He covered environmental affairs for the Portland Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram for twenty-five years. Bob, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker and trail maintainer, is president of the Phippsburg Land Trust and a director of the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust. 

Dean Bennett is professor emeritus at the University of Maine at Farmington. An avid writer and teacher in the fields of science and environmental education, Dean has been a long term, active advocate of wilderness protection. Published books include Maine's Natural Heritage, Allagash; Maine's Wild and Scenic River, The Forgotten Nature of New England, and The Wilderness from Chamberlain Farm. Dean is an artist and an avid outdoors person. 

Tim Glidden is the Director of the Land for Maine's Future Program and co-leader of the Eco-eco Team at the Maine State Planning Office. Tim has worked for over twenty-five years on a wide range of natural resource policy issues. He spent 11 years with the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis with the Maine Legislature finishing his tenure there as the Principal Analyst for natural resource matters. He also served as the Deputy Director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine for seven years.

Sam Merrill, project director at the Muskie Institute at the University of Southern Maine, will facilitate the discussion. 
This promises to be an informative and lively exchange.

December 3, Wednesday Potluck at 6:30. (Bring a dish or deli item to share)Forum starts at 7:30. Where: South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway in South Portland, Free and open to the public. All are welcome.