DACF Home → Bureaus & Programs → Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning → Land for Maine's Future
About Land for Maine's Future
The Land for Maine's Future Program is the State of Maine's primary funding vehicle for conserving land for its natural 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, new priorities were set forth by a commission of Maine citizens. Since that time the program has administered multiple bonds and even instances of general fund appropriations. LMF Funds Disbursed/Available Funds 1987 to 2023 (PDF), view our brochure (PDF) or read more about LMF.
For information contact the Land for Maine's Future Program, and to stay up to date on all of our news (including scheduled LMF Board meetings, workshops, and funding opportunities), sign up to get LMF news and updates delivered directly to your inbox!
Timber Harvesting Improves Forest and Supports Recreation at Dodge Point Public Land
The Maine Bureau of Public Land’s Dodge Point was one of the first LMF investments back in 1989. Since that time, more than half of LMF investments have been spent on working lands which support multiple resource values, including public recreational use, timber harvesting, farming and working waterfronts.
Timber harvests on Maine Public Lands are enhancing wildlife habitat, improving forest health, and generating revenue to support all of the resources that Public Lands provides to the people of the State of Maine. Earlier this year a timber harvest, begun during the winter of 2020, was completed at Dodge Point Public Land. The objective of the harvest was to improve the overall health of the forest by selectively removing low quality trees while allowing the designated higher quality trees to grow and regenerate the forest. The Dodge Point Timber Harvest video shows some of the harvest machinery in action and is narrated by Stephen Richardson, Senior Forest Engineer, and Andy Cutko, Director, of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. This harvest continues the forest stewardship legacy of the Freeman Family, who, as owners in 1978, won the State of Maine Tree Farm of the Year Award.
Not only does the harvest contribute to improved forest health, it also provides revenue to support recreational amenities such as the trails and trailheads. Visitors to Dodge Point enjoy recreational opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, skating, swimming, fishing, bird and wildlife watching, and can get down to the water at the seasonal pier, and at two pebble beaches. Dodge Point is also the northeast terminus of the River-Link Trail, which was made possible by Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust and partners and two major grants from the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Program. Coastal Rivers donors and volunteers also assist with upkeep of Dodge Point while LMF protects the working woodlands and recreation at this very popular and highly visited Public Land.