The Conservation Fund secures Hilton Family Forest in Maine

The Conservation Fund has secured the future of the 41,000-acre Hilton Family Forest near Jackman, Maine, following concerns over its sale in 2024. The acquisition aims to preserve the land for timber, recreation, and maple production.

Local maple producers in Somerset County, which produces the majority of Maine’s maple syrup, previously feared losing access to the leased sugarbush lots essential to their livelihoods. Under the management of The Conservation Fund, the forest continues to support the local economy through managed timber, maple tapping, and various recreational activities including hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.