Vox Populi, Anaplasmosis, Irma. If you had never heard or read these words before, and you had to guess what they meant, you might think that vox populi was an infectious disease, Ana Plasmosis might be a new neighbor, possibly of Mediterranean origin, and Irma the name of an old girlfriend, perhaps fondly remembered. The real definitions can be very different. As many of us know,Vox populi is Latin for ‘the voice of the people’, anaplasmosis (as many don’t know) is a tick-borne disease (you don’t want it), and, of course, no one needs to be told about Irma. You don’t want her either.
There’s no need to worry about Irma paying us much of a visit (if at all) here in Maine, though we can help those who have her on their doorstep. There are a number of preventive measures we can take to avoid getting bitten by a tick, and the right to speak our mind and share our views (vox populi) is a privilege in democratic countries which, if not exercised often, may not have much effect on decisions that we should have helped make.
Case in point. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands has begun a 15-year management plan for approximately 63,000 acres of lands known as the St. John-Allagash Region. The region roughly encompasses the western part of Aroostook County as well as northernmost Somerset and Piscataquis Counties. The St. John and Allagash Rivers, renowned for their wilderness settings and paddling opportunities, flow through the region. Chamberlain, Allagash and Eagle Lakes are among the major lakes in the region. ” As part of the Public Planning Process, a public scoping meeting was held August 30, 2017 in Ashland — “where the public will have an opportunity to provide input on the region’s resources, and on issues and concerns related to management and use of the public lands to be addressed in the Plan.” See file://localhost/seehttp/::www.maine.gov:dacf:parks:get_involved:planning_and_acquisition:management_plans:st_john_allagash.html
You might be thinking that 63,000 acres of land is a lot, and you might also be thinking that the state’s population, relatively speaking, is relatively small and not likely to increase rapidly any time soon. On the other hand, no one is making any more land, and the country’s population as well as the global one is burgeoning out of control and is probably the most pressing problem of our time since more people mean more consumption of finite natural resources. Those summer traffic jams (which get bigger each year) are an ominous sign of what the future holds.
The St. John – Allagash Region – Management Plan is an excellent opportunity to speak out to protect this pristine wilderness area, of which there are rapidly becoming too few nationwide. It should be safeguarded against the potential disruption of human activity. It should not be a place of noise, engine fumes, nor should it be open to hunting and trapping and logging. The key role the state of Maine should play is that of a conscientious steward of the land, combining the woodland admonition of ‘leave no trace’ with the basic tenet of the Hippocratic Oath – Do No Harm.
Unfortunately, it does not seem to be well-publicized, and only one public hearing (cited above) was held on August 3 in Ashland in Aroostook County (as I discovered) near the Canadian border, with no other public hearings scheduled anywhere else in Maine including population centers.
However, Jim.Vogel@maine.gov is taking comments until September 20 for people who want to submit suggestions for management of the St.John-Allagash region public lands. You can also contact Mr. Vogel by mail at 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0022. His direct office telephone is 207.287.2163.
If you care about the management of public lands, how they are preserved and protected, and how they can remain part of Maine’s wilderness as a legacy for the future, it is not too late to express your opinion. If you don’t, someone else will speak for you – and you may not like what they say.
The New View From Here 