MathWorks $10 Million Gift Accelerates Permanent Protection of Maine's Barnard Forest
TL;DR
MathWorks' $10 million gift accelerates AMC's acquisition of Barnard Forest, securing strategic conservation leadership and expanding their Maine Woods Initiative to 127,710 acres.
AMC acquired 29,000 acres of Barnard Forest through a $10 million donation from MathWorks, managed under Forest Stewardship Council standards for ecological and economic sustainability.
This conservation protects critical habitats and ensures public access for future generations, enhancing biodiversity and community opportunities in Maine's wilderness.
Barnard Forest safeguards 70 miles of streams with endangered salmon and creates a 750,000-acre conserved corridor nearly the size of White Mountain National Forest.
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The Appalachian Mountain Club has completed the acquisition of the Barnard Forest in Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness through a transformative $10 million gift from MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software. This acquisition secures nearly 29,000 acres of globally significant habitat and represents a major milestone in the Appalachian Mountain Club's landmark Maine Woods Initiative, which now totals 127,710 acres.
The gift from MathWorks, the second-largest philanthropic contribution in AMC's history, enabled the organization to finalize its purchase from The Conservation Fund and The Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation years ahead of schedule. This acceleration of conservation outcomes benefits one of the most ecologically important landscapes in the eastern United States, protecting critical wildlife habitat and maintaining biodiversity.
The Barnard Forest lies within the Pleasant River watershed, home to the last naturally reproducing population of landlocked salmon in Maine. The forest includes more than 70 miles of stream corridors that serve as critical spawning grounds for endangered sea-run Atlantic salmon, along with extensive spruce-fir flats and wetlands that provide cold-water habitat for native brook trout and landlocked smelt. The land protects an uninterrupted, undeveloped forest corridor spanning over 750,000 contiguous conserved acres.
Under AMC's stewardship, the Barnard Forest will support restoration forestry, habitat connectivity, and climate adaptation strategies. The property will be managed to Forest Stewardship Council standards, with plans to rebuild older forest conditions and expand carbon stocking as part of the organization's broader climate strategy. The conservation effort also contributes to rural economic growth by supporting more than 50 forestry- and recreation-related jobs while maintaining the property on local tax rolls.
The $10 million donation from MathWorks reflects the company's commitment to sustainability and science-based climate solutions. This partnership demonstrates how corporate philanthropy can accelerate environmental conservation efforts that benefit both ecological systems and local communities. The protected land will remain open to future generations for fishing, hunting, recreation, and cultural use, including tribal access, after being closed to the public for nearly 20 years.
This acquisition is part of AMC's Maine Woods Initiative, the largest multi-use conservation and recreation project in the eastern United States. With this addition, the initiative now encompasses nearly 130,000 contiguous acres, representing a significant achievement in landscape-scale conservation that sets a precedent for future public-private partnerships in environmental protection. More information about the initiative is available at https://outdoors.org/MaineWoodsInitiative.
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