Appalachia, June 2005
At the start of the twentieth century, early leaders of the Appalachian Mountain Club saw the need for large-scale conservation efforts to keep their beloved White Mountains from succumbing to rampant timber harvesting. The work they did, in collaboration with many other like-minded citizens, led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest.
At the turn of the twenty-first century, in the face of a new set of challenges, today's AMC leaders have adopted a vision that they believe is equally compelling. Known as the Maine Woods Initiative (MWI), the project calls for the creation of a significant portion of Northern Forest land to be permanently protected and open to multiple uses: public recreation; environmental education; responsible timber harvesting; and the protection of sensitive ecological areas. In late 2003, the AMC took the first bold step toward realizing this vision by purchasing 37,000 acres in the heart of Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness.
Representing a significant new direction for the club, the MWI reflects what AMC leaders call "big ideas." These can bring big rewards, but they also come with potential risks. The decision to move ahead with a multi-use conservation initiative in central Maine has been the result of lengthy introspection, research, strategic thinking, and community outreach by club members, administrators, and staff.
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Looking Beyond the Whites
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