Maine’s national parks, public lands and coastal programs are under threat — and we should all be alarmed.

Acadia National Park, a cornerstone of Maine’s identity and economy, has lost essential year-round staff and canceled dozens of seasonal jobs due to federal cuts. Trails are going unmaintained, campgrounds delayed and youth programs eliminated. That’s not just bad for the land — it’s bad for the communities and businesses that rely on it.

Our National Wildlife Refuges — like Maine Coastal Islands and Moosehorn — have seen staffing and habitat restoration efforts slashed. Vital programs to protect puffins, marshlands and forest ecosystems are disappearing. A $9 million flood and habitat restoration project in Down East Maine was abruptly canceled.

These cuts don’t just endanger wildlife and ecosystems — they put Maine people and livelihoods at risk. Public lands are not political bargaining chips. They are our heritage, our economy and our responsibility to future generations.

I urge our elected officials to fight for full funding of Acadia, protect Maine’s refuges and coastlines and reject the sale or privatization of any public lands.

We can’t afford to lose what makes Maine “the way life should be.”

Elizabeth Nitzel
Farmingdale