Banned and unwanted pesticides collection
This fall, Maine's Board of Pesticides Control will dispose of banned pesticides or pesticides that have become caked, frozen, or otherwise rendered unusable. There is no cost to homeowners. There will be four sites throughout the state where folks will be able to bring their obsolete pesticides. The collected chemicals go to out-of-state disposal facilities licensed by the US EPA where they are incinerated or reprocessed. Preregistration is required by September 15. To register, find out collection dates and locations, and learn about proper storage and transportation of obsolete pesticides, go to the BPC Web site or, call the BPC at 287-2731.

Donation protects 45 acres
Last week, FUW accepted our first donated conservation easement, permanently protecting a 45-acre farm and woodlot in Unity. We thank Anne Sheble for her commitment to conservation, and for working with FUW to conserve the land that she loves.

Challenge Grant means every gift is doubled!
All gifts received by Friends of Unity Wetlands will be matched dollar for dollar by the Unity Foundation, thanks to the $100,000 Challenge Grant now under way. Meeting this tremendous fund-raising opportunity will allow FUW to continue to conserve the farms and forests, wetlands and waterways that make the Unity Wetlands region so special. Visit Support FUW to make a secure, online donation today.

In 2004, a group of individuals and organizations incorporated as the Friends of Unity Wetlands (FUW) to protect and conserve the natural, cultural and economic values of the Unity Wetlands. FUW recognizes that the 45,000-acre Unity Wetlands landscape is a unique and significant resource, a combination of wild and working lands rich in biodiversity, scenic beauty, and economic value, which greatly enhances the quality of life of the local community.

The Unity Wetlands includes a large expanse of the wetlands and uplands centered on Unity Township, extending to Unity Pond and west to the Sebasticook River, covering more than 65 square miles. It includes portions of the towns of Albion, Benton, Burnham, Clinton, Freedom, Troy, Unity Plantation and Unity.

The area hosts an array of unique natural features. Several rare species and habitats, from wood turtles to wild garlic, find their home in the Unity Wetlands.

The area represents one of the largest remaining unfragmented blocks of land in central Maine providing a promising opportunity not only for conservation of the area’s rarest ecological gems, but also for maintaining wide-ranging common species, from black bear to bobcat, that are becoming increasingly rare in more developed landscapes in southern Maine.

Finally, the outstanding rural condition of the complex offers numerous social and cultural benefits to local and surrounding populations by providing a mainly farmland and working forest landscape that is largely open to traditional recreational activities such as hunting, trapping, fishing, boating and hiking.

FUW seeks to maintain biological diversity, ecological values, recreational values, traditional land uses and the rural character of this landscape through collaborative efforts with landowners, municipalities and partnering organizations. Our focus is on land conservation and outreach and education as well as information gathering.

 Click for larger image