While each of the reserves protects several different habitat types, there remain many habitat types that are unprotected. The challenge for the next few years is to complete the system. Some potential reserves have already been identified on land managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The department should designate those areas as ecological reserves. Some habitats are not on existing public lands and additional lands will have to be acquired in order to protect those areas.
Every journey begins with a single step.
This journey towards a complete ecological reserve system for the state has begun and we should all take a moment to celebrate. Catherine B. Johnson is North Woods project director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine.