Governor LePage Proclaims October 20, 2018 Landowner Appreciation Cleanup Day

October 20, 2018

WHEREAS, The State of Maine has one of the highest percentages of privately owned lands in the country and small and large woodland owners play an important role in our state’s economy in the paper and lumber industries, contributing jobs and much needed forest resources for our great state; and

WHEREAS, small and large woodland owners also graciously allow access to their properties for recreational uses, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and trapping, all of which also contribute to the Maine economy and make our state a special place to its citizens and visitors; and

WHEREAS, illegal dumping of trash on private land is a significant problem in our State and these actions threaten the environment and can be the reason that landowners consider closing their properties to recreational users; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Conservation, Maine Forest Service, Forest Protection Division, is charged with protecting forest lands from wildfires and abuse, with its Forest Rangers enforcing environmental laws, including the investigation of illegal dumping; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 120,000 small woodland owners in Maine and these landowners own more than 5.5 million acres, or 33% of Maine's woodlands, many of whom are represented by the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine. In addition, Maine has several large landowners who graciously allow recreational uses on their property; and

WHEREAS, The Maine Forest Service, in a cooperative effort with the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine, is conducting a Landowner Appreciation Cleanup Day on Saturday, October 15th in which Forest Service personnel and volunteers will clean up sites where illegally dumped refuse has been deposited as a way to say "thank you" to landowners for allowing the continued use of their property for recreational interests.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAUL R. LEPAGE, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim October 20, 2018 as LANDOWNER APPRECIATION CLEANUP DAY throughout the State of Maine, and urge all citizens to recognize this observance.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this tenth day of September Two Thousand and Eighteen.

Paul R. LePage
Governor