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About the Land for Maine's Future Program
The Land for Maine's Future Program is the State of Maine's primary funding vehicle for conserving land for its natural, economic, and recreational value. The program was established in 1987 when Maine citizens voted to fund $35 million to purchase lands of statewide importance. In 1997, Governor King’s Land Acquisition Priorities Advisory Committee set new priorities for statewide conservation focus. Since that time, the program has administered multiple bonds and general fund appropriations to address identified focus areas.
Accomplishments: LMF has helped state and local partners to complete projects in all of Maine's 16 counties. Types of land protected include; mountain summits; shorelines of rivers, lakes, and ponds; coastal islands; beaches; forests; grasslands; wildlife habitat; farmland; and wetlands. LMF assistance has put the following types of special places in the public trust forever:
- 73 water access sites with over 66 miles of shoreline on rivers, lakes, and ponds
- 41 farms and 9,884 acres of farmlands conserved
- 30 commercial working waterfront properties
- Acquisitions include
- Conservation & Recreation Projects with over 1250 miles of shoreline on rivers, lakes, and ponds
- more than 158 miles of former railroad corridors for recreational trails
- over 62 miles of public coastal access, and
- over 616,000 acres of conservation and recreation lands. This includes 333,425 acres of working lands reflecting LMF's efforts to conserve the working landscape and keep lands in private ownership with permanent land conservation agreements.
- Read our brochure (PDF) for projects and photos!
Funding: The Program works to coordinate and finance acquisition of lands. Through the use of matching funds, the program encourages partnerships with local, regional, statewide, and federal conservation organizations.
The LMF Program's priorities have evolved since 1987, however, the core focus remains the same – conserving the prime physical features of the Maine landscape and recognizing that working lands and public access to these lands is critical to preserving Maine's quality of life.
In 1999, the program was broadened to allow the use of funds for projects having local and regional significance as well as for projects having statewide significance. Maine citizens also authorized support for conservation lands held by local groups partnering with municipalities and private land trusts. In 2005, the Legislature added a working waterfront pilot program. The Legislature increased the requirement for matching funds to a 1:1 ratio in 2010. In 2023, LMF was further strengthened by moving the program’s funds to a designated trust fund, enabling the program to more easily accept private donations while earning interest on its undisbursed funds.
Keys to success: The Land for Maine's Future has garnered broad based support because it respects landowner rights by acquiring land only from willing sellers, pursues a mission defined by the public, provides a tangible return to everyone who cherishes Maine's landscape (from hunters, to hikers, snowmobilers to bird watchers), and leverages both federal and private funding for state priority purchases.
Proposal Process: The Land for Maine's Future Board issues calls for proposals on a periodic basis. Applicants are encouraged to work with program staff to complete the application process, which is described in the Land for Maine's Future Workbook.
For information contact the Land for Maine's Future Program