Natural Resources Council of Maine

Outreach: NRCM's outreach team engages our supporters and the public using a diverse array of tools. In addition to providing strategic outreach for our advocacy programs and issue campaigns, we focus on values-based, transformational organizing and leadership development to protect Maine's environment. With increased staff capacity in Franklin County, we are committed to building lasting relationships and partnerships with individuals and local organizations across that region. Through our digital outreach, NRCM communicates with our members, supporters, policy makers, and the public using email updates and calls to action, virtual and in-person meetings and events, and social media to advance our mission and meet the goals of our advocacy programs. Through NRCM Rising, we engage people in their 20s-40s around issues important to Maine's next generation of environmental leaders, while also providing networking with peers and leadership development to build Maine's environmental movement.

Communications: NRCM communicates with our members, supporters, policy makers, and the public using email updates, single-issue reports, direct mail, radio, videos, social media, and our website. The wide range of tools we regularly use advances our mission and helps to meet the goals of our programs.

Climate & Clean Energy: NRCM is a leader in advocating for policies to reduce the threat of climate change and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. We are working with state officials and agencies, scientists and technical experts, legislators, community leaders, state and national environmental organizations, and many other allies to build momentum for deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and a rapid transition to a clean energy grid that powers Maine's businesses, homes, transportation, and heating systems.

Sustainable Maine: Tapping into the state's strong tradition of local action, NRCM takes a practical, collaborative approach to addressing environmental problems faced by Maine people, businesses, and communities, particularly to prevent and better manage waste. NRCM seeks to achieve systemic changes in policies and practices at the local and state levels to reduce the environmental impacts of daily living. NRCM has helped achieve many first-in-the-nation policies to reduce plastic, packaging, and difficult-to-manage materials and works to ensure that corporations responsible for generating waste become part of the solution for recycling, reduced packaging, and design changes in products. Healthy Waters: NRCM plays a critical role in preventing pollution to Maine waterways and advocating for policies to improve the health of our rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as the communities, wildlife, and fisheries that depend upon those waters. NRCM focuses on removal of obsolete dams that block fish migration, preventing toxic pollution such as mineral mining, and watchdogging permit applications and policy proposals that could threaten Maine waters.State House Advocacy: NRCM is Maine's leading environmental advocate at the State House, using its policy advocates and outreach staff to track and influence dozens of bills each legislative session. NRCM drafts legislation and amendments, testifies before multiple committees, works with coalitions on legislative strategies, and provides education to elected officials as they seek passage of important legislative proposals across a range of issues.Forests & Wildlife: NRCM works to protect Maine's natural areas, wildlife habitat, and the undeveloped character of Maine's North Woods. We support responsible land development and sustainable forest practices that protect sensitive ecosystems and habitat. We also advocate for increased public ownership of Maine lands to improve access to the natural world for Maine people and visitors. While development pressures and the loss of public access continue to intensify, NRCM remains a leading voice for balancing economic development with conservation, especially in Maine's iconic North Woods.Federal: Decisions made in Washington, D.C., have lasting effects on Maine's clean air and water, thriving forests and wildlife, and on the health of Maine people, its economy, and its way of life. NRCM works directly with Maine's Congressional delegation and with a broad coalition of national environmental organizations and in-state allies to help ensure that policy decisions in Washington contribute to the protection of Maine's environment.