Sierra Club Praises Designation of Maine Woods National Monument #Maine #NationalMonument

In a fitting move the for the centennial of the National Park Service,  the Obama administration announced the designation of the country’s newest National Park Service unit— the Maine Woods National Monument.  The national monument is supported by a $40 million private endowment and will guarantee public access to outdoor activities while protecting the wild area in Northern Maine.In response Michael Brune, Sierra Club executive director, and Jim Frick, volunteer co-leader of the Sierra Club’s Maine Woods team issued the following statements.

“Today’s designation is a promising start to the next century of conservation. It’s a reminder that the wild beauty of our country can be found in every state. The diversity of America’s public lands should be matched only by the diversity of those who experience it. We hope both will continue to grow over the next 100 years,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune.

“We applaud President Obama for acting to safeguard this wild place and our traditional uses of it as a national monument. This monument comes with great economic, recreational, and environmental benefits for Mainers, and a rich variety of outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors,”said Jim Frick, volunteer co-leader of the Sierra Club’s Maine Woods team.