BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 31, 2022
Over the last two years, the COVID pandemic prompted many people to change their vacation plans, sometimes delaying travel to distant locales. As a result, visits to Maine’s outdoors skyrocketed. Maine state parks set another attendance record in 2021. Visits to land trust preserves and other conserved lands have also increased in recent years. So, it is an opportune time for the state to resume land protection through the Land for Maine’s Future, the popular land and access protection program that was hobbled by former Gov. Paul LePage. The Land for Maine’s Future program is an important tool in protecting places that Maine people value for their livelihoods, recreation and well being. Ensuring it can function as lawmakers and voters intended is critical.