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‘Ecological gem’ in Western Maine’s High Peak region protected, boosting local recreation, sustainable forestry, and climate resilience

RANGELEY, Maine
December 3rd, 2025

The South Branch Forest – an ecologically diverse 3,586 acre parcel at the headwaters of the Kennebec River watershed – is now permanently protected through a collaborative effort led by Trust for Public Land in partnership with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; U.S. Navy; and U.S. Forest Service.

The conservation easement is co-held by the US Navy and Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, and was secured with contributions from the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, U.S. Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI), and a private landowner whose generous contributions were essential to the project success and who will retain ownership and use of the land. Additional generous support for the South Branch Forest was provided by a number of foundations and individuals, including the EJK Foundation, Maine Mountain Collaborative’s Transaction Fund, and The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Appalachian Grant Program.

The newly conserved South Branch Forest will be managed to support multiple goals including guaranteeing public access for residents and visitors to the popular region; enhancing experiences along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail; and supporting ‘Maine Won’t Wait,’ the state’s climate action plan, through carbon sequestration, carbon storage and nurturing a mature forested environment.

Located minutes from the year-round recreation hub of Rangeley, the South Branch Forest is a region of undeveloped lakes, ponds and mature tree stands. With healthy populations of moose, deer, waterfowl, and brook trout, the area contains 580 acres of wetlands, 80 acres of lakes, three “Great Ponds,” and a seven mile stretch of the South Branch of the Dead River.

Through protecting the Dead River and maintaining  public foot access across the property, the project supports a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities including hiking, hunting, birding and fishing. The South Branch Forest also contains seven miles of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, which connects Maine to New York by water. Designated overland trails also will be open to motorized recreation, including a section of the popular Interconnected Trail System (ITS) for snowmobiles and ATVs, and a gravel access road for motor vehicle access to a set of remote ponds.

Approximately half the area will be newly dedicated to preserving older forests, sensitive habitats, and rare species; while the other half will continue to be sustainably harvested for timber and forest products. The combination of the two strategies will maximize natural climate solutions of carbon sequestration and storage, enhance absorption of flood waters as a climate defense, strengthen habitat resiliency for a wide range of species, and provide economic benefits from sustainable timber harvesting.

In their words:

  • Gene LeFevre, Landowner – “I am so lucky to be a part of this team process of preserving and improving our forest land. It always cheers me to see that a small band of well-intentioned citizens can move mountains and create something that improves the planet and sets an example of the good we can do when working with others. Thank you all for making this easy and fun. I recommend this to anyone who has land that can be preserved for the planet.”  
  • Betsy Cook, Maine state director for Trust for Public Land – “In the past twenty years, Trust for Public Land has protected 213,000 acres of forestland in Maine, one-third of which is in Western Maine and the High Peaks region. Protection of the South Branch Forest and this section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail will connect even more people to the outdoors, locally and across the state and northeast. We know that communities depend on those connections to the outdoors for health, economic wellbeing, social connections, and flood resilience. Projects like this are a ‘need to have ‘for communities, not just a ‘nice to have’.” 
  • Amanda Beal, Commissioner of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry –  “This project is an excellent example of partnerships that transform our outdoor spaces. Together, we have protected the South Branch Forest, which means cleaner water, stronger wildlife habitat, and more places for people to enjoy the outdoors, while advancing Maine’s climate resilience and working forest economy.”
  • Andy Cutko, Director of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry – “We’re honored to have again collaborated with the Trust for Public Land and the landowner on this conservation project. It achieves important conservation objectives for Mainers: conserving biodiversity,  enabling sustainable forestry, and securing public access for hunting and fishing today and for generations to come.” 
  • U.S. Navy Captain, Jesse Nice, Shipyard and Installation Commander at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard –  “Conserving this property maintains the surrounding forested wilderness that is essential for the realism of the Navy’s adjacent training mission. We are proud to be part of such a successful partnership that enhances Navy readiness while simultaneously increasing access to the outdoors and preserving wildlife habitat in the Rangeley Lakes Region.”
  • Ken Arney, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service – “The South Branch Forest exemplifies the multi-use benefits the U.S. Forest Service delivers through the Forest Legacy Program.  This newly conserved property supports the local forest products industry, permanently secures public access for a wide range of outdoor recreation uses, and strengthens Navy readiness, all for the benefit of current and future generations.”
  • Senator Susan Collins  – “I am thrilled to hear that the South Branch Forest is now permanently protected by the Trust for Public Land, along with other conservation organizations. I am glad that, following the Maine delegation’s letter to the U.S. Forest Service, this land will be protected and can continue benefitting local communities, supporting sustainable forestry, protecting natural habitats, and connecting Mainers to the outdoors.”
  • Senator Angus King – “Outdoor recreation and forestry are two proud, centuries-old Maine traditions. By permanently conserving the South Branch Forest, we are protecting critical wildlife habitats and waterways, expanding access to our public lands, and supporting Maine’s forest and recreation economies that together generate more than $16 billion annually. This project represents a significant conservation expansion in Western Maine — an environmental and economic investment that will benefit Maine people and visitors for generations to come.” 
  • Representative Chelli Pingree  –  “This is conservation at its best — protecting Maine’s natural heritage while strengthening our economy and outdoor traditions. The South Branch Forest project shows what we can accomplish when federal, state, and local partners work together. I was proud to support the Forest Legacy funding that made this possible, and I’m thrilled that families in Rangeley and visitors from across the country will get to enjoy this spectacular landscape for generations. From the Northern Forest Canoe Trail to snowmobile routes to sustainable forestry, this project delivers real benefits for Western Maine communities while advancing our fight against climate change through carbon sequestration and habitat protection.”
  • Representative Jared Golden  – “Conserving the South Branch Forest will have many important benefits, from boosting recreation to ensuring valuable habitats remain untouched. But I’m most inspired by what ties these goals together: the recognition that we’re lucky to live somewhere so special, and that as stewards of these woods and waters we have a responsibility to keep it that way. This project will ensure future generations get to enjoy everything this exceptional place has to offer.” 

 

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.