Every day, all day long, we’re reading and hearing news about lots of change in Washington. Even as we wonder what’s next, we are hearing about the local impacts of those changes and the uncertainty that surrounds them. That matters to us personally, and it matters to Maine Audubon as an organization. How do we navigate this?
For me, this begins with a deep breath, followed by reflection on who we are. Our mission:
Maine Audubon works to conserve Maine wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people in education, conservation, and action.
I have often said that our work has never been more important. But now OUR WORK HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT! Maine is blessed with abundant wildlife and wildlife habitat. It is almost as big as the other five New England states put together. That area is—remarkably—89% forested (the highest percent in the nation) and our geological past has rewarded us with 6000 lakes and ponds, most of them being remarkably pristine. In addition to 2300 square miles of inland waters, Maine has a craggy coastline that stretches 3500 miles. We have an enormous amount of wildlife habitat.
With a population of 1.4 million people, we need EVERYONE to lift us towards our mission. I believe that, despite the turmoil emanating from Washington, and despite the deep divisions in today’s political environment, we have a unique opportunity to build upon all that we have learned since our root organization was founded in 1843. We are a convener and a collaborator. We have a history of bringing people together, not apart. How have we done this? We attract people to our community by being a voice of reason, by being rooted in science, by being thoughtful, and by being kind. We work hard to make choices about what we can and cannot change, and we focus our energy toward building community and gathering resources for what will most positively affect our mission.
We are monitoring the impact of federal actions both on our direct work and upon the organizations and individuals with whom we collaborate. I could not be more proud of the way that Maine Audubon rose to the occasion during the 2020 pandemic. It was scary, it was hard work, but I genuinely believe that we emerged a better, stronger organization. We can do the same in 2025. Now, much as it was during the pandemic, we can’t see around the next curve. What I believe with all of my heart is that, if we’re true to our values and play to our strengths, we will get through this as a stronger and more impactful organization—and wildlife will benefit.
