The Barnard Forest

Why This Project Matters

The 100-Mile Wilderness lies in the heart of Maine’s North Woods, a region that features some of the largest areas of undeveloped forests, lakes, and ponds in the United States, as well as an area of exceptionally high habitat connectivity and resilience to climate change.

Our efforts to restore aquatic habitat on the property have helped to reestablish renowned native brook trout populations and allow Atlantic salmon to return to native spawning grounds in the headwater streams of the West Branch for the first time in nearly two centuries—making it one of the only places in the state where this is possible. We're leveraging responsible forestry efforts on the property to position multi-use forestland as the ideal stronghold for ecological resilience and climate adaptability. Additionally, we plan to reopen the forest for public access and recreation.