The Tumbledown Conservation Alliance wants to buy the land from MeadWestvaco.
By Eileen M. Adams
Staff Writer

TOWNSHIP 6 – The Tumbledown Conservation Alliance is working with the Trust for Maine Lands and MeadWestvaco for the purchase of about 6,000 acres north of Weld in Township 6 that will include several mountains with popular hiking trails.

The acreage is part of the 10,000 acres designated by MeadWestvaco to be sold to conservation groups. The paper company recently announced divestiture of its more than half-million acres in the state.

Conrad Heeschen, a member of Tumbledown Conservation alliance, said the land parcel will include the lower part of Little Jackson Mountain, Big Jackson Mountain and Blueberry Mountain. He said no price has yet been attached to the property. An appraisal is currently being conducted through the assistance of Sam Hodder from the Trust for Public Lands.

If successfully purchased from MeadWestvaco, it will be the third large land parcel the Tumbledown association has successfully raised funds for purchase by the state during the past four years. These include additions to Mt. Blue State Park, the tops of Tumbledown and Little Jackson mountains, and Tumbledown Pond. These lands are now part of Maine’s public lands. Conservation easements protect many more thousands of acres in the area.

As part of the fund-rai sing process, Heeschen said a portion of the purchase price must be raised through private funds. A major fund-raising appeal will be launched once more details are available on the parcel’s purchase. Most funds will come from the federal Forest Legacy Program and the Lands for Maine’s Future.

More than 19,000 acres in the Tumbledown area have been protected through purchase or easements at a cost of $5.25 million since 1999. Of that total dollar figure, more than $500,000 has been raised from individuals, businesses and foundations.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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