Ecological Reserves (1999)
Was completely revised by the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. The final version authorizes the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) to establish Maine’s first “ecological reserves on public lands to protect representative examples of Maine’s ecosystem types.” Timber harvesting, commercial mining, and excavation of sand and gravel are prohibited on ecological reserves. BPL may designate up to 15% of the acreage within its jurisdiction (approximately 100,000 acres) as ecological reserves. These reserves represent an important step in helping safeguard ecological diversity in Maine.
