Help shape the future of conservation and recreation in the United States! On September 2nd in Bangor, ME, senior officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will host a listening session to gather your thoughts and ideas on conservation, recreation, reconnecting people to the outdoors, and enhancing related economic opportunities. You are encouraged to attend this session.
President Obama established the America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) Initiative in April 2010 to develop a conservation and recreation agenda worthy of the 21st century that will reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. The President hopes that by renewing Americans’ relationship with the outdoors, we will, as a nation, provide better protection for the national treasures we have in our trails, waters, forests, parks and farms. Learn more about how you can take additional action at AMC’s website
In Maine, a decline in the traditional forest products industry has led to significant changes in land uses and ownership. Resulting development threatens the wild and remote character of this region, as well as traditional public access and outdoor recreation. In response to this, AMC launched the Maine Woods Initiative, an innovative approach to conservation that combines outdoor recreation, resource protection, sustainable forestry and community partnerships to address the ecological and economic needs of the Maine Woods region. This project exemplifies the goals of AGO as it supports local forest products jobs and traditional recreation, creates new multi-day recreational experiences for visitors, and attracts new nature-based tourism to the region. AMC has built diverse partnerships of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private landowners to protect over 66,000 in the Moosehead Lake region of Maine.
The September 2nd public listening session and discussion is an opportunity for leaders of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to hear from you and other voices in Maine about solutions for building a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda and for reconnecting people with the outdoors, strengthening natural resource based economies and enhancing economic opportunities. Please join us.
Listening Session and Discussion Information:
When: Thursday, September 2nd, 3:00PM – 6:00PM
Where: Bangor Civic Center
100 Dutton Street
Bangor, ME 04401
For directions, go to: http://www.basspark.com/help.php
Who: Senior officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will be present to hear your thoughts and to participate in a conversation with you about America’s Great Outdoors.
Register: This event is free and open to the public. For planning purposes it would be helpful if you would pre-register by August 26, 2010 by sending an email to Elaine Tremble at elaine.tremble@me.usda.gov with your name, the name of the organization with which you are affiliated, if any, and your telephone number. We will make every effort to accommodate everyone. Please also let us know if you need any special accommodations.
In the event you are unable to participate in person, please submit your comments and stories via the America’s Great Outdoors website at http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/. If you have questions, please contact Elaine Tremble at 207/990-9569, or elaine.tremble@me.usda.gov. We hope you will participate and look forward to hearing from you.Labels: America's Great Outdoors, CAN, conservation