The Barnard Forest
You Helped Us Conserve 29,000 Acres in Maine's 100 Mile Wilderness
We’ve permanently protected the Barnard Forest in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness! We are grateful to our project partner, The Conservation Fund, who held the land while we raised $23 million over the past three years.
Protect the Outdoors
Why This Project Matters
The 100-Mile Wilderness lies in the heart of Maine’s North Woods, a region that features some of the largest areas of undeveloped forests, lakes, and ponds in the United States, as well as an area of exceptionally high habitat connectivity and resilience to climate change.
Our efforts to restore aquatic habitat on the property have helped to reestablish renowned native brook trout populations and allow Atlantic salmon to return to native spawning grounds in the headwater streams of the West Branch for the first time in nearly two centuries—making it one of the only places in the state where this is possible. We're leveraging responsible forestry efforts on the property to position multi-use forestland as the ideal stronghold for ecological resilience and climate adaptability. Additionally, we plan to reopen the forest for public access and recreation.
Learn More
- Associated Press: $10 Million MathWorks Gift Powers Appalachian Mountain Club’s Permanent Protection of Barnard Forest
- Maine Public Radio: Purchase finalized for permanent conservation of Barnard Forest in Piscataquis County
- Portland Press Herald: Penobscot Nation to reclaim 1,700 acres in rural Maine as tribe grows land holdings
- Spectrum News 1: Conservation group to protect Barnard Forest thanks to $10M gift