What We Do
Collaboration, Education, Action.
The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust (MATLT) was formed in June 2002 as an independent land trust for the purpose of acquiring and protecting the land surrounding the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Maine for public benefit. The trail lands in Maine represent some of the most diverse natural communities in the state and provide an important recreation resource.
MATLT is committed to protecting the traditional ecological and recreational values of wilderness, wildlife and undisturbed scenic beauty that are most often associated with the Appalachian Trail in Maine.
As development creeps up into the mountain valleys, it is clear that a collaborative effort is needed to identify the most threatened land to bring about successful conservation to ensure preservation of the essential natural components and the backcountry experience for future generations.
MATLT’s conservation focus is the 203,400 acres roughly bounded by the communities of Rangeley, Phillips, Kingfield and Stratton.
Partners
MATLT is a member of the Maine Land Trust Network, the Northern Forest Alliance, the Land Trust Alliance and the Woods and Waters group of the Mountain County Heritage Network.
We are currently partnering with the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust and Forest Society of Maine on the first phase of a Forest Legacy Proposal that will protect 13,500 acres in the combined Rangeley High Peaks region of western Maine. The entire project area includes the 600,000 square miles of the Rangeley Lakes Region, joined to the east, at the town of Rangeley, by Maine's High Peaks region, comprised of 203,400 acres bounded by the communities of Rangeley, Phillips, Kingfield and Stratton.
This first phase is comprised of three parcels which are critical to the overall conservation vision for the entire region.
The goal of this project is to build upon existing conservation in the area to provide landscape level conservation from the Rangeley Lakes, through the High Peaks region, building upon existing conservation in both regions as well as connecting to the Bigelow Preserve. Future project phases should be able to connect to the Tumbledown Mountain area.
Ecological Study
In the spring of 2006 we commissioned Peter McKinley, Ph.D., of McKinley Conservation Biology and Planning, and Stephen Engle of the Quebec Labrador Foundation Community Mapping project to conduct an Ecological Study of the High Peaks Region, compiled from data from a variety of sources. The information generated from this exciting project will guide MATLT's conservation efforts in the immediate High Peaks Region and will be shared with other conservation groups to guide their own efforts. Copies of the Ecological Study can be downloaded or requested from our office.
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