SUMNER – Where will you be able to hunt, cross country ski, fish or look for wildflowers in Sumner in 2030? Oxford County is experiencing accelerating growth.

As private lands are split up and developed and traditional access and opportunity for outdoor recreation becomes increasingly scarce, each local land-use decision has implications for local flora and fauna and resource opportunities available to the next generation.

Knowledge of the local natural resources is a critical first step when developing plans to protect the rural character and quality of life. To that end, the Sumner Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee will host a “Beginning with Habitat” presentation on comprehensive and open space planning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Sumner Town Office, 633 Main St. All are welcome.

The presenters are a partnership of private and government groups whose focus is the natural landscape. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine Natural Areas Program, the State Planning Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Audubon Society and other organizations have come together to help towns plan for open space.

The “Beginning with Habitat” program has been shown in more than 180 towns to date.

In addition to the presentation, which is intended to help people become aware of the threats to open space as well as its value now and in the future, the program helps towns in their planning with Geographic Information Systems computer-generated maps and data about the natural resources of each town.

Molly Docherty, director of the Maine Natural Areas Program, said, “The goal here is to balance growth with the protection of natural resources for wildlife, recreation, sustainable forestry and agriculture.”

Residents are invited to view the maps of Sumner, ask questions and bring pencils for adding their knowledge of the area to the maps.

For more information about the program or the meeting, call Mary Ann Haxton at 388-2979 or visit http://www.beginningwithhabitat.org.