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Bill > LD1529


ME LD1529

An Act to Enhance the Protection of High-value Natural Resources Statewide


summary

Introduced
04/08/2025
In Committee
04/08/2025
Crossed Over
06/05/2025
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

132nd Legislature

Bill Summary

This bill: 1. Directs the Land for Maine's Future Board to give preferential consideration in land acquisition projects that conserve late-successional forests and old-growth forests; 2. Requires the Director of the Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to include information regarding late-successional forests and old-growth forests in the director's report on state forests; 3. Requires the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to adopt rules to reclassify all lakes that are currently undeveloped but high value into other management classifications; and 4. Directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to develop a comprehensive, statewide strategy to enhance the conservation of late-successional forests and old-growth forests.

AI Summary

This bill enhances the protection of late-successional and old-growth forests in Maine by defining these forest types, creating new conservation strategies, and establishing specific protections. The bill defines a late-successional forest as a naturally developed forest stand with minimal human interference, and an old-growth forest as a forest with no visible signs of human activity. It requires the Land for Maine's Future Board to prioritize land acquisition projects that conserve these forest types, specifically targeting projects that protect at least 5 acres with 100-foot buffers and permanently prohibit timber harvesting. The bill also mandates that the Director of the Bureau of Forestry include information about these forest types in annual reports, and directs the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to reclassify undeveloped, high-value lakes into more protective management categories. Most significantly, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to develop a comprehensive statewide strategy for conserving late-successional and old-growth forests by 2026, which involves soliciting expert input, exploring conservation approaches like voluntary carbon markets and forest practice incentives, and submitting a detailed report with potential legislative recommendations. The overall aim is to preserve and enhance Maine's unique forest ecosystems and their ecological and carbon storage values.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (10)

Last Action

Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence. (on 06/05/2025)

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