The Wild Times: May
Land protection highlights and other updates from the Wilderness Trust.
Tag Archive for: Featured News
Northeast Wilderness Trust Receives Conservationist of the Year Award
The Wilderness Trust is honored to receive the Adirondack Council’s “Conservationist of the Year” award in recognition of our forever-wild conservation work across the Northeast.
The Wild Times: March and April
Spring is here with our newest Wild Times enews.
Nearly 2,000 Maine Acres Protected Through the Wildlands Partnership
A version of this press release first appeared in the Ellsworth American on April 9, 2025.
ELLSWORTH, MAINE—Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC) and Northeast Wilderness Trust have finalized a forever-wild conservation easement on a 1,921-acre property in Ellsworth on Route 1A. The property includes 2,000 feet of shoreline on Green Lake, a glacial lake stretching through the towns of Ellsworth and Dedham. Several streams which flow into Green Lake and the Union River also reside on this property, including Boggy Brook.
In December, Frenchman Bay Conservancy acquired the Green Lake property to protect wildlife habitat while allowing public access. Hunting of non-predator species is allowed by permission. Green Lake, one of only four lakes in Maine that support a population of native land-locked salmon, supports the Green Lake National Fish Hatchery that rears endangered Atlantic Salmon. The lake is also home to the southernmost population of Arctic Char. The property on Green Lake also protects 255 acres of wetlands surrounding Gilpatrick Brook and Big Pond—wetlands that provide critical habitat for inland wading birds and waterfowl.
This purchase helps connect the shore of Green Lake with conserved lands in the Branch Lake watershed. Though the nearby conserved lands around Branch Lake are not connected to the Green Lake property yet, FBC will explore opportunities to work with willing landowners to conserve their properties. “The Green Lake property is a strategic stepping stone in establishing a wildlife corridor and protecting the watersheds of Branch and Green Lakes,” said Austin Schuver, FBC Director of Land Protection.
This project represents Frenchman Bay Conservancy’s largest purchased property to date. Northeast Wilderness Trust helped make this Ellsworth conservation project possible with a financial contribution through its Wildlands Partnership initiative. Northeast Wilderness Trust now holds a conservation easement on this Frenchman Bay Conservancy-owned property in perpetuity.
“Northeast Wilderness Trust is proud to partner with Frenchman Bay Conservancy through our Wildlands Partnership to ensure forever-wild conservation of this vital land,” said Caitlin Mather, Land Conservation Director at Northeast Wilderness Trust. “Protecting vibrant wildlife habitat and public access yields immense benefits for natural and human communities in this part of Maine.”
The Wild Times: January and February
With an additional 6,354 acres protected in 2023, last year was wildly successful for wilderness recovery, thanks to you. Places like Moriah Wilderness Preserve in New York and Sargent Hill Wilderness Preserve in Vermont, both protected last year, have begun their rewilding journey.
Northeast Wilderness Trust Announces Promotion of Jon Leibowitz to President and CEO, New Leadership Structure, and Hiring of Nicie Panetta to Vice President of Advancement
The Board of Directors of Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT) has voted to appoint Jon Leibowitz, formerly Executive Director, the organization’s first President and CEO.
Rewilding In Practice
Learn how NEWT is bringing rewilding ideas to life at two wilderness preserves.
New research reveals broad public support for species restoration
New research conducted by Northeast Wilderness Trust in collaboration with national and international partners delves into the critical role of governance in addressing the biodiversity crisis in the United States.
Newts from the Field: Stewardship team meets at Grasse River Wilderness Preserve
From wildlife cameras to forest plots to soundscapes, the new Ecology Program is covering a lot of ground to bring much-needed, low-impact science to conservation in the Northeast.
NEWTS from the Field: Ecology program hosts Bioblitz events
Bioblitz events bring community together to explore and learn about our wild neighbors
Newts from the Field: Learning from Nature with the Ecology Program
The Wilderness Trust ecology team is hard at work sharing the knowledge that wilderness offers with conservation professionals, academics, students, and amateur naturalists.
Newts from the Field: Ecology Program Blooms
From wildlife cameras to forest plots to soundscapes, the new Ecology Program is covering a lot of ground to bring much-needed, low-impact science to conservation in the Northeast.