AMC protects almost 29,000 acres of environmentally crucial forest in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness
GREENVILLE, Maine, Sept. 16, 2025/ PRNewswire/– The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), the country’s earliest outside entertainment and preservation company, revealed today that it has actually finished the acquisition of the Barnard Forest in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness thanks to a transformative $ 10 million present from MathWorks, the leading designer of mathematical computing software application. This acquisition protects almost 29,000 acres of worldwide substantial environment and marks a significant turning point in the Appalachian Mountain Club’s landmark Maine Woods Effort, which now amounts to 127,710 acres.
The present from MathWorks, the second-largest humanitarian contribution in AMC’s history, made it possible for the company to complete its purchase of the Barnard Forest from The Preservation Fund and The Malone Household Land Conservation Structure years ahead of schedule, speeding up preservation results in among the most environmentally essential landscapes in the eastern United States
” This present from MathWorks is more than generous– it’s catalytic,” stated Nicole Zussman, President and CEO of AMC. “It allows us to protect an irreplaceable landscape, guaranteeing its health, gain access to, and biodiversity are completely secured. MathWorks has actually made an extensive financial investment not simply in land, however in environment durability, neighborhood chance, and eco-friendly connection. I’m grateful they shared our vision and accelerated our capability to safeguard this landscape 2 years much faster than we ‘d even hoped.”
The Barnard Forest, an almost 29,000-acre working forest in Piscataquis County, lies within the Pleasant River watershed, home to the last naturally recreating population of landlocked salmon in Maine The forest consists of more than 70 miles of stream passages, crucial generating premises for threatened sea-run Atlantic salmon, substantial spruce-fir flats, and associated wetlands that supply cold-water environment for native brook trout and landlocked smelt. The land secures an undisturbed, undeveloped forest from the Appalachian Path highlands to the primary stem of the Pleasant River, an overall constant saved land of over 750,000 acres, almost the size of the White Mountain National Park.
This preservation turning point was enabled through AMC’s tactical collaboration with The Preservation Fund. In 2023, The Preservation Fund and The Malone Household Land Conservation Structure collectively obtained the southern part of the Barnard home, providing AMC the time required to raise funds for its irreversible security. The Preservation Fund’s share was acquired through its Working Forest Fund, with assistance from the Richard King Mellon Structure. Today’s statement unites the shared vision of numerous partners concentrated on preservation to completely safeguard the home well ahead of schedule.
” This is specifically the kind of significant, high-impact work The Preservation Fund was developed to deal with,” stated Tom Duffus, the Fund’s vice president and northeast agent based in Freeport “Through swift and tactical action, we worked together to effectively safeguard this important location to develop enduring advantages for the excellent state of Maine, regional homeowners, and this area’s numerous visitors.”
Under the Appalachian Mountain Club’s stewardship, the Barnard Forest will support remediation forestry, environment connection, and environment adjustment. The home will be handled to Forest Stewardship Council requirements, with strategies to reconstruct older forest conditions and broaden carbon equipping, which is an important part of the company’s wider environment technique. The forest likewise adds to rural financial development by assisting support more than 50 forestry- and recreation-related tasks and strengthening the AMC’s $ 8.39 million yearly financial effect in the area. The home will stay on the tax rolls of Piscataquis County.
“ Barnard represents a real merging of preservation chance, eco-friendly significance, and public advantage,” included Steve Tatko, Vice President of Land and Preservation for the Appalachian Mountain Club. “This land was closed to the general public for almost twenty years. Thanks to MathWorks, The Preservation Fund, and many donors and partners, it will now stay available to future generations for fishing, searching, entertainment, and cultural usage, consisting of tribal gain access to. AMC is happy to live its worths in a forest like this in service of ecology and individuals, for the advantage of both.”
Preliminary financing for this task originated from the Richard King Mellon Structure, the EJK Structure, and other lead people and structures. AMC’s three-year project to safeguard and resume Barnard Forest led to almost $ 24 million in presents, grants, and program-related financial investments to support the acquisition, continuous stewardship, and capital required to re-establish public access to Barnard Forest. MathWorks finished the purchase of the Barnard Forest with a transformative $ 10 million contribution, part of its dedication to sustainability and science-based environment services.
” At MathWorks, our company believe in services that scale, sustain, and advantage both individuals and the world,” stated MathWorks SVP and CFO Jeanne O’Keefe “Supporting the irreversible security of Barnard Forest shows this dedication. We’re happy to assist speed up the Appalachian Mountain Club’s operate in the Maine Woods and safeguard this remarkable landscape for future generations.”
The Barnard Forest acquisition belongs to AMC’s Maine Woods Effort, the biggest multi-use preservation and entertainment task in the eastern United States With this addition, the effort now incorporates almost 130,000 adjoining acres– a location almost 3 times the size of Acadia National Forest
Because its starting in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club has actually led significant preservation turning points, consisting of advocacy for the production of the White Mountain National Park. Under Nicole Zussman’s management, the company is constructing a strong brand-new tradition, one rooted in science, scaled through collaboration, and concentrated on enduring effect for the land and individuals who depend on it.
For more information about the Maine Woods Effort or to support the Appalachian Mountain Club’s preservation work, go to: outdoors.org/MaineWoodsInitiative
About the Appalachian Mountain Club
The objective of the Appalachian Mountain Club is to cultivate the security, satisfaction, and understanding of the outdoors. AMC is a neighborhood of more than 90,000 travelers, supporters, and nature geeks whose enthusiasm for the outdoors understands no bounds. From Maine to Virginia, we link individuals with nature– and with each other. Discover more at outdoors.org
About The Preservation Fund
The Preservation Fund secures the land that sustains us. We remain in business of preservation, producing ingenious services that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for environment security, dynamic neighborhoods and sustainable economies. We use reliable methods, effective funding methods, and long-lasting federal government, neighborhood and personal collaborations to safeguard countless acres of America’s natural land, cultural websites, entertainment locations and working forests and farms. For more information, go to www.conservationfund.org
About MathWorks
MathWorks is the leading designer of mathematical computing software application. MATLAB, the language of engineers and researchers, is a shows environment for algorithm advancement, information analysis, visualization, and numerical calculation. Simulink is a block diagram environment for simulation and Model-Based Style of multidomain and ingrained engineering systems. Engineers and researchers worldwide depend on these items to speed up the rate of discovery, development, and advancement in vehicle, aerospace, interactions, electronic devices, commercial automation, and other markets. MATLAB and Simulink are basic mentor and research study tools on the planet’s leading universities and discovering organizations. Established in 1984, MathWorks utilizes more than 6,500 individuals in 34 workplaces worldwide, with head office in Natick, Massachusetts, U.S.A.. For extra details, go to mathworks.com.
Media Contact:
Pamela Brown
pbrown@outdoors.org
SOURCE Appalachian Mountain Club