Betterment Fund Priorities

Exhibit D:  Conservation

• Land preservation:  The Fund supports projects in land and natural resource conservation across the State, primarily in the northern forest area.   Currently we are concentrating our resources on collaborative initiatives in Western Maine where large acreage ownership is in transition.  That collaborative work, called the Mahoosuc Initiative, involves a number of conservation organizations from Maine and neighboring states and provinces. 
  

• Resource development:  The Fund supports efforts to conserve resources and the natural environment while recognizing the need for economic sustainability as well.  Visionary projects that integrate and balance those two objectives are of special interest.  Examples might be the organizations that assist private owners of land in forestry or agriculture, such as the Small Woodlot Owners of Maine and the Maine Farmland Trust.
  

• Resource preservation:  The Fund supports projects created by organizations such as land trusts or established resource protection associations including Maine Audubon Society’s “Beginning with Habitat” and The Natural Resources Council of Maine. 
  

• Environmental tourism and economic development:  Projects that promote tourism and development are of interest as long as they feature controls that meet environmental standards and make good environmental sense.  Currently we are supporting Maine Huts and Trails and trails projects sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Proposals that are not as likely to be funded include environmental education programs, land trust preservation projects outside Western Maine, projects involving the issues of coastal fishing or efforts to protect lakes or rivers.