BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 18, 2023
The Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, of Orland and Bucksport, is the 2023 Maine Outstanding Tree Farmer. The goals of the trust, which was founded in 1993, are to protect:
• Wildlife habitat and biodiversity
• Rural character and scenic beauty
• Working forests and farms
• Opportunities for outdoor recreation and education
The vision of the founders was to conserve the large, undeveloped area on and around Orland’s Great Pond Mountain, called the Wildlands. After an initial acquisition of 4,200-plus acres in 2005, the Wildlands has since grown to over 5,000 acres. The original 4,200 acres, which had been treated harshly by the previous owner, is now a textbook example of restoration forestry.