The announcement that 87,500 acres of land in Maine's North Woods would become a national monument came the day before the centennial of the National Park Service. The designation is also sure to be controversial.
"President Obama designated more than 87,500 acres of forestland in Maine’s fabled North Woods as a national monument Wednesday in a historic but unilateral decision following years of fierce debate," reports Kevin Miller. The new national monument will be known as the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
"The move is likely to delight conservation activists and infuriate local opponents fearful the designation is trading potential industrial-based opportunities in the Katahdin region for mostly seasonal tourism jobs," adds Miller.
Planetizen picked up the news of the ongoing controversy surrounding the fate of the North Woods in May. The designation of the new National Monument hinged on the donation of the land by Roxanne Quimby, the co-founder of Burt's Bees.
The announcement was time to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service, which is today, August 25, 2016. President Obama also created the following video to announce the new National Monument.
FULL STORY: Obama creates 87,500-acre national monument in Maine’s North Woods
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