In 2020, conservation partners began securing Maine’s Chadbourne Tree Farm; six years later, more than 27,000 acres of working forest are permanently protected from development. The forest remains open to the public

More than 27,000 acres of forestland in western Maine have been permanently protected after a six-year conservation effort brought together environmental organisations, state agencies and local land trusts. The achievement safeguards working forests, drinking-water resources and recreational access across a landscape near Bethel that could otherwise have faced fragmentation and development. According to Maine Public, the Bangor Daily News and The Conservation Fund, the October 2026 milestone builds on an initial acquisition in 2020 and extends conservation protections across the surrounding region. The protected land includes approximately 11,000 acres at the heart of Chadbourne Tree Farm. Crucially, the agreement does not remove the forest from productive use: timber operations can continue, and the land remains accessible to the public.

A six-year effort to protect Maine’s forests

The conservation initiative began in 2020, when The Conservation Fund and the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation acquired nearly 14,900 acres of Chadbourne Tree Farm. The purchase gave conservation partners time to arrange permanent protections and prevent the property from being divided into smaller parcels for potential development.The effort subsequently expanded beyond the original acquisition, bringing together Mahoosuc Land Trust, Greater Lovell Land Trust, Western Foothills Land Trust, Inland Woods + Trails, state conservation agencies and the US Forest Service. Together, the partners secured additional properties, expanded existing nature preserves and added land to public conservation holdings. The resulting network now protects more than 27,000 acres across western Maine.The broader initiative includes a 600-acre expansion of White Mountain National Forest, more than 1,300 acres added to Western Foothills Land Trust properties, and additional protected land along the Kezar River corridor. Mahoosuc Land Trust also secured substantial acreage, including the Crooked River Headwaters conservation easement and Tumbledown Dick Preserve.

Protecting drinking water for more than 200,000 people

One of the most important benefits of the project lies in its watershed protections. Chadbourne Tree Farm sits near the headwaters of the Sebago Lake watershed, a critical source of drinking water for more than 200,000 people in the greater Portland area.Forests help protect water quality by filtering runoff, stabilising soil and reducing the movement of sediment into streams and rivers. Conserving large, connected forest areas can therefore help maintain the health of waterways that supply nearby communities. The protected landscape also provides wildlife habitat and forest corridors that allow animals to move through the region as environmental conditions change. Keeping these areas connected is particularly important as development and a changing climate put pressure on natural habitats.

Working forests continue to support local jobs

The conservation agreement is designed to protect the land without ending its economic role. Chadbourne Tree Farm will remain an actively managed working forest, supporting timber production and jobs linked to Maine’s forest-products industry.The approach reflects a broader conservation strategy that seeks to balance environmental protection with the needs of rural communities. Rather than removing the land from economic use, the partners have secured its future while allowing sustainable forestry operations to continue.The project received support from Maine’s Land for Maine’s Future programme, the US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and more than $10 million in private philanthropic contributions.

A connected trail network for year-round recreation

The protected acreage also helps connect outdoor recreation areas around Bethel. Conservation of key parcels secures important sections of a continuous trail network linking Sunday River Resort and Mt. Abram, opening up opportunities for hiking, skiing and cycling throughout the year. The project also expands access to community forests, river corridors and other recreational areas used by residents and visitors.For western Maine, the achievement extends beyond the preservation of a single tree farm. It creates a connected landscape that supports clean water, working forests, wildlife and outdoor recreation while reducing the risk of future development fragmenting the region. Six years after the initial acquisition, the partnership has secured a long-term future for more than 27,000 acres, keeping the forest productive and accessible for generations to come.