Meeting on the Mahoosucs

AMC Outdoors, April 2006

The Mahoosuc Range straddles the Maine-New Hampshire border, a complicated patchwork of publicly and privately owned land. Over the last several decades land ownership has transitioned to a mix of investment owners, with different economic priorities than those the communities were used to. How this land can best be managed is a question that AMC, as part of the Mahoosuc Coalition, is seeking to answer.

In February, town meetings were held in Bethel, Maine, and Berlin, N.H., to give residents the opportunity to voice their concerns about land use issues. “AMC and our partners at the local and national level have agreed that there are a number of issues that require consideration,” says Bruce Clendenning, AMC’s Conservation Advocate. Among these issues are the impact on the economy, ecology, recreation, tourism, and the timber and forest products industry in the region. Clendenning describes the town meetings as part of a participatory process, which will help to identify the areas and activities that are most valued by local residents. “There are concerns about the potential loss of recreational accessÑincluding access to the Appalachian Trail-fears of overforesting, and a general lack of connection to what land owners are doing,” Clendenning says. “We want to create opportunities for local groups to be heard.” With this input from the community the group will eventually draft a Mahoosuc Regional Resources Report, which is part of a long-term effort to protect the region from development and commercial pressure.

The Mahoosuc Coalition includes both regional and national interest groups, including the Northern White Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, Mahoosuc Land Trust, Androscoggin River Watershed Council, Northern Forest Alliance, The Wilderness Society, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While no dates have been set, the group is planning to hold more meetings in the spring.