They also added hunting and snowmobile protections to appease local residents, making the monument the only one in the U.S.to allow hunting.
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The move comes after Roxanne Quimby, of Burt’s Bees fame, gifted the land to the government after a long and controversial quest to launch a new national park. Mount Katahdin, the state’s highest peak, can be seen in the background as a rainstorm passes through Baxter State Park.
“As Maine’s Representative in Congress for the 2nd District, I joined Senators Collins and King in sending a letter to President Obama last November expressing reservations about the unilateral decision to designate a national monument in our State”.
“In addition to protecting spectacular geology, significant biodiversity and recreational opportunities, the new monument will help support climate resiliency in the region”, the White House said in a statement Wednesday.
The National Park Service officially turns 100 years old August 25.
Beyond a benefit of a protected wild space to be enjoyed by all, the designation may boost the economy of the region, which lost roughly 430 manufacturing jobs since the recent recession.
This spring, Maine’s legislature passed a symbolic bill saying the legislature didn’t consent to the federal government acquiring the land. Her plan inherited most of the opposition that had been aroused by RESTORE’s idea, and she and her son Lucas St. Clair have spent years listening to their neighbors and trying to put their suspicions to rest, not always successfully. More Created heritage initiatives to recognize the cultural history of all Americans through theme studies and designations. Other activities such as hunting and snowmobiling will also be allowed on a portion of the monument. She wanted to see it become a reality this year during the centennial anniversary.
“The National Park Service marks its centennial this week with a renewed commitment to tell a more complete story of our nation and to connect with the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates”, said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.
“His critics can now fire back that even a pretty liberal Democratic candidate from that district did not think the monument decision was the way to go”, Melcher said.
It was established with a donation of land and tens of millions of dollars, all from Roxanne Quimby. Another $20 million will be raised within three years to raise the endowment to $40 million.
As part of its Congressionally-chartered mission, the National Park Foundation has provided vital initial support to several new national park units including Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, Pullman National Monument, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, César E. Chávez National Monument, and Stonewall National Monument. With the impacts of climate change being documented at national parks across the country, the new ME monument will also help preserve the land in the face of these threats.
ME is also home to Acadia National Park, which at 47,000 acres is slightly more than half the size of the newly designated monument.
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The woodlands were donated by the founder of Burt’s Bees.
