South Branch Forest

As climate change tightens its grip on communities nationwide, extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding are becoming more frequent and severe. In Maine, Trust for Public Land is working to mitigate these effects and build climate resiliency across the region by protecting one of the state’s natural superpowers: forestlands.

Land and forests offer key opportunities: absorbing flood waters, supporting a diversity of wildlife habitats, and sequestering carbon in soil and trees. These nature-based solutions are essential for the climate crisis and deliver many benefits for health, equity, community, jobs, and economic development.

Over the past twenty years, TPL has protected 213,000 acres of forestland in Maine, one-third of which is in Western Maine and the High Peaks region. Recently, we permanently protected 3,586 acres of forest, rivers, lakes, and wetlands in the headwaters of the Kennebec River watershed known as the South Branch Forest.

Located just minutes from Rangeley, the area is one of New England’s most popular year-round destinations. People flock to nearby Rangeley Lake and Saddleback Ski Area for recreational opportunities. South Branch Forest supports recreation as part of the region’s wild, undeveloped forested landscapes. It hosts seven miles of the beloved Northern Forest Canoe Trail, the longest water trail in the country. However, without proper protection, areas like South Branch Forest remain at risk of being developed to support the growing number of visitors.

We led the effort to permanently protect this expansive forest through a working forest conservation easement with our partners at the Maine Bureau of Parks and Recreation, the USDA Forest Service, the US Navy, and a very supportive landowner. Protecting South Branch Forest helps build climate resiliency in the region and supports outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, hunting, birding, fishing, and snowmobiling. This landscape will forever continue to help residents and visitors explore and connect to the benefits of the outdoors.