The Nature Conservancy in Maine

💧 It’s World Water Week!! 💧 One way we’re celebrating is by sharing about the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These climate laws were historic investments in the future of America, its people and the planet, and they transcend state and party lines by investing in evidence-based, on-the-ground projects that benefit all of us. They are critical to ensuring future economic prosperity, health and well-being of our communities in Maine and around the globe. Why exactly does this legislation matter? 🔹 The lands and waters that sustain humans, plants and animals are in jeopardy. Climate change and a wide range of human activities are impacting habitats at an unprecedented and unsustainable rate. 🔹 Loss of a variety of life on earth affects all. Diminished fish habitats hurt fishing communities. Forests at higher risk of wildfires not only threaten wildlife habitat but also livelihoods. The loss of a diverse array of plants and animals threatens the outdoor recreation industry that supports millions of jobs and generates hundreds of billions of economic output across the United States. 🔹 Without effective implementation of these critical pieces of legislation and additional actions, the United States will likely miss its 2030 goal of reducing emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels. Missing this target will make fighting the climate crisis harder, more expensive, and will undermine global cooperation. 🔹 From creating more resilient landscapes to rebuilding infrastructure to clean energy, these policies and funding are transformative, creating jobs and setting communities on a cleaner, sustainable and prosperous future. Sometimes, our efforts toward climate action can feel like a drop in the bucket – but every drop counts!! 🌊 📸 Bridget Besaw #WorldWaterWeek #IIJA #IRA #legislation #advocacy #climateaction #climategoals #maine #freshwater #cleanwater #oceans #rivers

Coming up this fall! 🍂🍁 Join TNC Maine on October 1 for a conversation with women working to conserve Maine’s iconic forests. Our panelists will discuss what climate change means for the future of our ecosystems—and why equity and Wabanaki leadership are central to a future where people and nature thrive. ‘Women in Climate: Forests’ is the second installment of an annual event series hosted by TNC Maine that features partners and focuses on the work, contributions, and achievements of women working in the climate sector. For this event, we will be joined by Dr. Suzanne Greenlaw, a citizen of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Post-Doctoral Scientist for the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Abby King, TNC Maine Land Conservation Project Manager, and Karin Tilberg, President/CEO of the Forest Society of Maine. The discussion will be moderated by TNC Maine State Director Kate Dempsey. This event takes place on Tuesday, October 1, from 7:00pm to 8:15pm at USM’s Hannaford Hall in Portland. It's free of charge and open to the public. Check out the link to get registered! https://lnkd.in/exFujKdH 🧡 p.s. Can’t make it on October 1?? Visit our site for other ways you can join us to #JoinMaine: nature.org/joinmaine #JoinMaineMondays #ThisWeeksClimateAction #forests #forestry #mainewoods #WomenInClimate #WomenInSTEM #event #maine #conservation #environmentalism

Did you know that Disney’s “Bambi” was largely based on Baxter State Park? One of Disney’s most famous animators was Maurice ‘Jake’ Day, an outdoorsy type from Damariscotta. “Bambi” actually had one of its very first public showings right here in lil old Portland, ME! Throughout the film’s creation, several deer were transported from Maine to California by the Walt Disney Company for artists to study, and an anatomical analyst was contracted to help perfect their bodies and motions. The forest depicted in the two films is compiled from images of various arboreal treasures throughout the state. For both movies, producers traveled to Maine and took thousands of local photos. In fact, some viewers have made the case that Mount Katahdin is the peak seen behind the men’s camp (although this has not been confirmed by an official source, and might be speculation motivated by some good old fashioned Mainer pride… 😅). In 2011, Bambi was among the films selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The Registry said that the film was one of Walt Disney's favorites and that it has been "recognized for its eloquent message of nature conservation"; the 1929 book of the same name is considered one of the first environmentalist novels. 📸 Kent Mason

We know you're thinking about it. And hey - we wanna talk about it, too 🤷♀️ TNC is offering a seven-part webinar series on offshore wind. It is a critically important energy resource in our efforts to mitigate climate change, but the often-complicated topic also evokes a LOT of questions. Our goal is to help provide clarity and address concerns by convening experts who can answer some of the most challenging questions we have about offshore wind, and explore how it can help us create a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future. 🍃🌊⚡ Tune in later this week for the second in the series, on Thursday, August 22 at noon, to hear about how the federal government navigates offshore wind siting. One of the presenters this month is our very own Dr. Jocelyn Runnebaum – TNC Maine’s Marine Scientist – weighing in with her expertise about TNC’s approach to siting. Listeners will also hear from Dr. Seth Theuerkauf, a Renewable Energy Program Specialist with the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, who will explain the approach the federal government uses to identify wind energy areas in the ocean that are suitable for offshore wind leasing. The event will be hosted by Tricia Jedele, Offshore Wind Policy Manager at TNC. Register today!! https://lnkd.in/eWeSjT6j 💙 📸 Ayla Fox #offshorewind #renewableenergy #greenenergy #mainecoast #gulfofmaine #climateaction #energy #offshorewindsiting #oceans #climate #conservation #nature

You see how I do my makeup for work? Very demure. Very mindful... I don't do too much. 💅 📸 Gwen Fraser / TNC

Join our team, and leaf all your worries behind 🍃🌲☺ We had such a blast at our recent Volunteer Day!!! Huge shoutout to everyone that showed up ready to hit the trails. Making outdoor spaces more accessible is a huge part of what we do here at TNC, and we definitely couldn’t do it without your help!! p.s. if you haven’t had a chance to sign up for our #JoinMaine mailing list, today is the day!! We use this newsletter to announce volunteer opportunities, exciting updates from the field, and news about our ongoing projects. You wouldn’t want to miss it. 😉💚 nature.org/joinmaine #JoinMaineMondays #ThisWeeksClimateAction #volunteer #trailwork #hikemaine #outdoorsinmaine #trailcleanup #environmentalism

Our friends at MEEA are accepting applications for their Changemakers Gathering next month! 💚🌲😊 The Changemakers Gathering is a youth planned and facilitated, intergenerational two-day event to build a sense of community amongst people who are passionate about the environment. The gathering includes lodging, food, youth-led workshops and panels, discussions, mentorship opportunities with Maine organizers, games, and unstructured space for relaxation and connection in a beautiful outdoor retreat environment. The gathering is free for people ages 15-30 (including lodging and meals). Adults over age 30 are encouraged to attend as well – MEEA asks people over age 30 to pay a registration fee that helps cover the costs to plan and host the event. Applications are open until September 9! Check out the link to submit yours, or learn more: https://lnkd.in/eeeQmqQc 📸 Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA) #communitybuilding #gogreen #youthengagement #youthprogramming #events #maine #natureinmaine #getoutdoors #advocacy #resilience #climateaction #climatechange #environmentalism

🐝🍯 Send these to your honey to wish them a sweet World Honey Bee Day! 🍯🐝 World Honey Bee Day is the third Saturday in August, and it brings a buzzing celebration for beekeepers, honey lovers, and all blooming things. When we plant wildflowers, orchards, and other flowering plants, we support pollinators like honey bees. They depend on the nectar of a variety of plants for their survival – and conversely, we depend on honey bees for our survival, too! 🥰 📸 Jose Madrigal/TNC Photo Contest 2019; Jo Robinson/TNC Photo Contest 2016; Kody Sherlock/TNC Photo Contest 2019; Gary Grossman/TNC Photo Contest 2022; Greg Tucker/TNC Photo Contest 2010; Kent Mason; Jordan Null/TNC Photo Contest 2019; Zoe Marks; Glenn Ostle/TNC Photo Contest 2022; Gillian Hembrow/TNC Photo Contest 2019 #WorldHoneyBeeDay #bees #pollinators #savethebees #honeybees #beekeeping #wildlife #biodiversity #honey #beekind #apiary #apiarist

Did you know that eastern gray squirrels can swim? They use their bushy tails as a rudder and their hind legs as paddles to navigate through water. If you thought installing a moat might be enough to protect your birdfeeder, you’ll need to try another strategy… In fact, as anyone with a “squirrel-proof” feeder can attest, these little tree-huggers are pretty difficult to stump (pun intended). They’re one of very few mammals that can descend a tree or structure headfirst. Wide flexibility in their rear ankles allows them to rotate their hind feet backwards as necessary. Luckily, these determined critters do more than just rob your favorite birds of a convenient food source. Many of the acorns that squirrels harvest and bury in multiple caches (a process called “scatter hoarding”) for eating over the winter will not actually be eaten. Some 30ish percent of what they hide will never be recovered; instead, the nuts and seeds and cones stay buried and become trees. Squirrels are in part responsible for forest regeneration and long-term tree survival, a trait that led Henry David Thoreau to refer to them as “forest planters” when he wrote Faith In A Seed. Whether you see them as acrobats, thieves, or the Lorax’s next-of-kin, squirrels can be both a boon and a bane for your local ecosystem. It’s understandable if they drive you a little nuts. 🥜 📸 Gwen Fraser / TNC #squirrels #FascinatingFactFriday #wildlife #mainewildlife #biodiversity #funfacts #animalfacts #cuteanimals #backyardbirdwatching #squirrel #mammals

The Maine Climate Council is currently in the process of updating the state’s climate action plan, aka “Maine Won’t Wait.” And by December 2024, the state will have a new plan packed with strategies and goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions, produce energy from renewable sources, and protect our natural resources, communities and people from the impacts of climate change. How does your voice fit into the picture?? There are several ways to get involved!! If you’re a young Mainer (age 9-22) you can participate in the Climate&ME Climate Art Challenge. They’re seeking original work that explores climate solutions, resilience and climate preparedness, or a thriving, climate ready Maine in 25 years. Selected artists' pieces will be included in the updated Maine Won’t Wait climate action plan's print and digital versions, as well as being featured on the Maine Won’t Wait website and social media channels. Learn more about the challenge: https://lnkd.in/gWUzT45z And Mainers of ALL ages can still take the 2024 Draft Climate Strategies & Survey, to provide feedback on recommendations from working groups and task forces. They’re considering new or updated strategies in eight areas: Transportation, Buildings, Energy, Coastal & Marine, Community Resilience, Natural and Working Lands, Materials Management, and Land Use. Check out the link below for more info on each of the draft strategies, then decide whether to take the full survey or focus on sections that are most relevant to you and your community. Your voice can help shape our state’s future: Maine won’t wait, and neither should you! https://nature.ly/4dFv0P0 #climateaction #maine #maineclimatecouncil #MaineWontWait #climatestrategy #climatechange #noPlanetB #greeninitiatives #reducereuserecycle #greenMaine #ME #mainefuture #advocacy