The Trust for Public Land has announced the protection of more than 10,000 acres of land along the Appalachian Trail in the mountains of Western Maine through the acquisition of conservation easements on two properties.

The two properties are adjacent to a Navy remote wilderness training facility in Franklin County. The 9,580-acre Redington Forest conservation easement will be co-held by the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust and the U.S. Navy. The 1,155-acre Lone Mountain conservation easement will be held by the U.S. Navy.

The majority of funding for the acquisition of the conservation easements came through the U.S. Navy and the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program.

“This project was an ideal REPI Program candidate as it allowed the Navy to maintain a realistic training environment while also conserving land which supports the public’s continued enjoyment of the wilderness experience,” said Commander, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Capt. David Hunt. “We will all benefit from its successful conclusion now and in the future.”

The Trust for Public Land helped to protect the neighboring Crocker Mountain (12,046 acres) in 2013, nearby Orbeton Stream (5,774 acres) in 2014. 

Protection of Redington Forest and Lone Mountain also knits together about 60,000 acres of protected land in an ecological corridor that is critically important for wildlife movement.

“As the holder of the conservation easement for Redington Forest, he Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust is pleased to be the long-term steward for this 9,580-acre parcel, which will remain a working forest and will provide a valuable buffer for one of the most remote and scenic stretches of the Appalachian Trail,” Simon Rucker, executive director of the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust, said.

“The conservation of Redington Forest represents a collaboration of local, regional, and national interests,” said Nancy Perlson of Madrid Township, former executive director of the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

Additional support for the Redington Forest project came from the following foundations: Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Open Space Institute’s Transborder Fund and Summer Hill Foundation.