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End Date
8-5-2020 12:20 PM
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Department
Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty Mentor
Terry Shehata, PhD
Keywords
Fairy Head, Downeast Maine, public land, land trust, state park, grant writing
Abstract
Downeast Maine boasts roughly 2,000 miles of coastline and an abundance of ecologically important protected lands; many in the Cutler and Lubec region. The area’s rural population, with a growth rate of -0.16%, has been experiencing an economic downturn for years. On a global scale, countless regions have experienced economic recovery through nature tourism. Backpacking trails, such as the Long Trail in Vermont, have also become increasingly popular, attracting hikers from all over the world. Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land protects 12,234 acres along Maine’s Bold Coast. Its 10.35 mile Fairy Head hiking and backpacking trail is one of the only opportunities to backpack on the U.S. East Coast. I am applying for a theoretical grant to convert Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land into a state park while collaborating with neighboring Maine Coast Heritage Trust land to expand the Fairy Head trail; forming a longer backpacking trail, eliminating logging, and attracting tourism to the region while enhancing the backcountry experience.
Virginia Majka Presentation Transcript
Open Access?
1
Cutler Coast Fairy Head Loop Trail Expansion
Downeast Maine boasts roughly 2,000 miles of coastline and an abundance of ecologically important protected lands; many in the Cutler and Lubec region. The area’s rural population, with a growth rate of -0.16%, has been experiencing an economic downturn for years. On a global scale, countless regions have experienced economic recovery through nature tourism. Backpacking trails, such as the Long Trail in Vermont, have also become increasingly popular, attracting hikers from all over the world. Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land protects 12,234 acres along Maine’s Bold Coast. Its 10.35 mile Fairy Head hiking and backpacking trail is one of the only opportunities to backpack on the U.S. East Coast. I am applying for a theoretical grant to convert Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land into a state park while collaborating with neighboring Maine Coast Heritage Trust land to expand the Fairy Head trail; forming a longer backpacking trail, eliminating logging, and attracting tourism to the region while enhancing the backcountry experience.
