A major land return is underway in Maine, where 11,000 acres are being turned over to the Penobscot Nation in the first phase of a larger transfer. The move connects Indigenous land rights and conservation.
Here's what to know
As reported by Maine Public, when the Trust for Public Land became aware of the acreage up for sale, the nonprofit bought it from timber harvesters in order to return it to the Penobscot Nation.
According to the local news outlet, returning 11,000 acres in proximity to the Penobscot River is the first phase of a larger land return set to total about 30,000 acres.
That larger transfer is expected to become one of the largest between a U.S. nonprofit and a tribal nation.
Chuck Loring, Natural Resource Director for the Penobscot Nation, told Maine Public the tribal group plans to restore wild habitats on the land.
More background
The transfer puts stewardship of and decision-making over the land in the hands of the Penobscot Nation.
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Ensuring that Indigenous stewards and knowledge-keepers can guide conservation efforts on ancestral lands connects environmental goals with the Land Back movement to return Native territory.
Digital news platform Good Good Good recently highlighted the land return on social media.
In response to the post, one commenter wrote, "More of this to save our planet."
"Considering what is being done to forests, farmland, national parks, and overall our precious environment, this is some really needed, very good news," another added.
Where can I learn more?
These stories explore other land-return and Indigenous stewardship efforts beyond Maine:
• In California, the state's land-back deal returned 47,000 acres to the Yurok Tribe.
• In California, the Iipay Nation secured a $100 million land deal at Santa Ysabel.
• In New Mexico, the Pueblo of Jemez won a hard-fought settlement over ancestral land.
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