The “Land Trusts Work for Maine” Report
In his 2018 State of the State address, Governor Paul LePage included misinformation about land conservation, blaming land trusts for taking money off the tax rolls. In response to the Governor’s address, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and others in the land conservation community have not been silent.
Governor LePage has inferred that land trusts are responsible for $18.3 billion in tax-exempt land. In reality, that figure represents all tax-exempt real estate (land and buildings) in Maine, of which about 64% is owned by the state, and the remaining 36% is spread among all nonprofits, including hospitals, churches, chambers of commerce, and land trusts. Land trust-conserved land accounts for less than 1% of that total. One of the reasons land trust-conserved lands account for such a low percentage is because more than 94.5% of these lands are not tax exempt, even though many are eligible. Instead, land trusts chose to contribute to the local tax base by keeping most of their conserved properties on the tax rolls, oftentimes in Maine’s Tree Growth or Open Space programs.
Also in his remarks, Governor LePage left out the myriad benefits land trusts provide Maine communities. These positive impacts to Maine’s economy and communities were recently summarized in a report by the Maine Land Trust Network called “Land Trusts Work for Maine.” MLTN answer critics with actual data and real examples that illustrate how land conservation groups are expanding outdoor recreational opportunities, strengthening the tourism economy, supporting natural resource jobs, and enhancing local communities in Maine.
The findings of the report are based on a survey of Maine’s land trusts conducted in the summer of 2017. Highlights include the following statistics associated with land trust conserved land in Maine.
Maine land trusts have given the public:
- More than 1,260 miles of hiking trails
- More than 570 miles of snowmobile trails
- More than 200 boat launch sites
- More than 2.3 million acres of land open to hunters
- More than 2.1 million acres of working forestlands
- More than 36,000 acres of productive farmlands
- More than 65 access sites for marine fishermen
As a percentage of its total area, Maine has the least amount of public land of any state east of the Appalachian Mountains. Most states rely on government and taxpayers to conserve natural places and guarantee public access to the outdoors. To the contrary, Mainers have chosen a private sector path, built upon home grown land trust organizations in towns and regions throughout the state.
The “Land Trusts Work for Maine” Report also includes dozens of examples of how these community-based organizations partner with businesses, support local classrooms, help maintain public lands, improve water quality, connect people with nature, and make our state a better place to live and raise a family. To read the full report, click here.
MCHT and partner land trusts have shared this report far and wide, with legislators, other conservation organizations, the press, and the general public. As a result, in response to the Governor’s remarks, we’ve seen an outpouring of support for the work of land trusts and numerous articles pointing to all that was left out in the State of the State address.
To stay up to date on Maine land conservation issues and news, click here to sign up for “Maine Infoline,” a bi-monthly e-newsletter produced by the Maine Land Trust Network.
More Stories from the Coast
Sharing the work of Island Housing Trust, a nonprofit organization and frequent partner of MCHT working to increase access to housing for teachers, first responders, and other workers on Mount Desert Island.
Kate Stookey, president and CEO at Maine Coast Heritage Trust, introduces a new MCHT publication and shares information about the organization’s strategic planning process.
On this particular August day, we collected 860 pounds of plastic buoys, rope, and trash, From (only two) packed boatloads.
Take a closer look at wood frog and spotted salamander eggs and egg masses found on MCHT preserves this time of year
“This place, and the people who also call this place home, made me who I am and instilled in me a desire to care for this land and the lives and livelihoods it supports. For me, that’s what conservation is all about.”
"Mwanasiasa Paul LePage, katika hotuba yake ya 2018 ya Jimbo la Maine, alitia ndani habari zisizo sahihi kuhusu uhifadhi wa ardhi, akilaumu amana za ardhi kwa kuchukua pesa kutoka kwa orodha za kodi. """ Kwa kujibu hotuba ya Gavana, Maine Coast Heritage Trust na wengine katika jamii ya uhifadhi wa ardhi hawajaendelea kimya. Gavana LePage amesema kuwa serikali ya Marekani imeweka madeni ya dola bilioni 18.3 kwenye ardhi ya Marekani. Kwa kweli, takwimu hiyo inawakilisha mali isiyohamishika yote (nchi na majengo) katika Maine, ambayo karibu 64% inamilikiwa na serikali, na 36% iliyobaki imesambazwa kati ya mashirika yote yasiyo ya faida, pamoja na hospitali, makanisa, vyumba vya biashara, na amana za ardhi. Kwa mfano, ardhi iliyokamilishwa na Trust ya Ardhi ni chini ya asilimia moja ya jumla ya ardhi iliyokamilishwa. Kwa sababu ya idadi ya ardhi iliyokamilishwa na Trust, zaidi ya asilimia 94,5% ya ardhi hiyo haijatozwa kodi, ingawa wengi wao wanastahili. Badala yake, amana za ardhi zilichagua kuchangia msingi wa kodi ya mitaa kwa kuweka mali zao nyingi zilizolindwa kwenye orodha za kodi, mara nyingi katika mipango ya Maine ya Ukuaji wa Mti au Nafasi ya Wazi. Pia katika taarifa zake, Gavana LePage alisahau faida nyingi ambazo amana za ardhi hutoa kwa jamii za Maine. "Mashirika ya Maine Land Trust Network (MLTN) na Maine Land Trust Network (MLTN) wametoa ripoti ya ""Utegemezi wa Ardhi kwa Maine"" inayoelezea jinsi vikundi vya uhifadhi wa ardhi vinavyoongeza fursa za burudani za nje, kuimarisha uchumi wa utalii, kusaidia kazi za rasilimali za asili, na kuboresha jamii za Maine." Utafiti huo ulijumuisha utafiti uliofanywa na shirika la Maine Land Trust mnamo mwaka 2017. Mambo makuu ni pamoja na takwimu zifuatazo zinazohusiana na ardhi ya uaminifu iliyohifadhiwa katika Maine. Maine ina zaidi ya kilomita 1,260 za njia za kutembea, zaidi ya kilomita 570 za njia za snowmobile, zaidi ya maeneo 200 ya kutolewa kwa mashua, zaidi ya ekari milioni 2.3 ya ardhi iliyofunguliwa kwa wawindaji, zaidi ya ekari milioni 2.1 ya misitu ya kazi, zaidi ya ekari 36,000 ya mashamba ya kilimo, zaidi ya maeneo 65 ya ufikiaji kwa wavuvi wa baharini. Majimbo mengi hutegemea serikali na walipa kodi kuhifadhi maeneo ya asili na kuhakikisha upatikanaji wa umma kwa nje. Kwa upande mwingine, Mainers wamechagua njia ya sekta binafsi, iliyojengwa juu ya mashirika ya uaminifu wa ardhi ya nyumbani katika miji na mikoa kote jimbo. "Tarifa ya ""Land Trusts Work for Maine"" pia inajumuisha mifano kadhaa ya jinsi mashirika haya ya jamii yanavyoshirikiana na biashara, kusaidia madarasa ya mitaa, kusaidia kudumisha ardhi ya umma, kuboresha ubora wa maji, kuunganisha watu na asili, na kufanya jimbo letu kuwa mahali pazuri pa kuishi na kukuza familia." Ili kusoma ripoti kamili, bonyeza hapa. MCHT na mashirika ya ushirikiano ya ardhi yameshiriki ripoti hii mbali mbali, na wabunge, mashirika mengine ya uhifadhi, waandishi wa habari, na umma kwa ujumla. "Kama matokeo, kwa kujibu taarifa za Gavana, tumeona msaada mwingi kwa kazi ya amana za ardhi na makala nyingi zinazoonyesha yote ambayo yaliachwa nje katika ujumbe wa ""Jimbo la Jimbo.""" Ili kukaa hadi sasa juu ya masuala ya uhifadhi wa ardhi ya Maine na habari, bonyeza hapa kujiandikisha kwa <unk>Maine Infoline,<unk> jarida la kila mwezi linalotengenezwa na Mtandao wa Uaminifu wa Ardhi ya Maine. Msaada wa Island Housing Trust, shirika lisilo la faida na mshirika wa mara kwa mara wa MCHT, unafanya kazi ili kuongeza upatikanaji wa makazi kwa walimu, wajibuji wa kwanza, na wafanyakazi wengine kwenye Kisiwa cha Mount Desert. Kate Stookey, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Maine Coast Heritage Trust, anawasilisha chapisho jipya la MCHT na anashiriki habari kuhusu mchakato wa mipango ya kimkakati ya shirika. Katika siku hii maalum ya Agosti, tulikusanya pauni 860 za boi za plastiki, kamba, na taka, kutoka kwa (boti mbili tu) zilizojaa. "Tazama kwa karibu mayai ya chura wa mbao na salamander iliyo na madoa na mayai mengi yaliyopatikana kwenye Hifadhi ya MCHT wakati huu wa mwaka: ""Mahali hapa, na watu ambao pia wanaita mahali hapa nyumbani, wamenifanya mimi ni nani na kunipa hamu ya kutunza ardhi hii na maisha na maisha ambayo inasaidia." Kwa ajili yangu, hiyo ni nini uhifadhi ni wote kuhusu.