The Wild Acadia initiative 2.0 is helping to restore important park habitats, but with an innovative forward-thinking approach of managing for future expected environmental conditions rather than looking to the past.

Acadia National Park has proven to be a leader in climate-smart restoration, receiving national press as well as recognition from National Park Service Director Chuck Sams during his visit to the park this July. The park also had visits from U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and a delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Other parks are reaching out to learn more about our work.

In addition, Acadia National Park will receive federal funds authorized through the bipartisan $550 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congress passed last November. Two crucial environmental projects in the park will receive funding over the next two years: the Great Meadow Wetland restoration will receive $500K in fiscal year 2022 and Bass Harbor Marsh $400K in fiscal year 2023.

Acadia was well positioned for this federal funding thanks to its leadership in addressing how parks tackle climate change. The Wild Acadia initiatives are an excellent example of how private philanthropy and government can work together.

And the momentum continues to build.

Your gift to the Wild Acadia 2.0 Paddle Raise in 2022 will help leverage federal funding and help Friends of Acadia contribute to the long-term resiliency of park ecosystems.

Rebecca Cole-Will, Acadia National Park Chief of Resource Management, on why acting now in the face of climate change is so important.

Wild Acadia Initiatives

While Wild Acadia initiatives are continually adapting to suit the shifting needs of the park’s ecosystems, here is what we’re working on right now:

• We are supporting experiments on Acadia’s summits, testing a variety native plant species and planting techniques to determine the best approach for helping Acadia’s summit plant communities thrive as conditions change.
• We are supporting efforts at the Bass Harbor Marsh to remove invasive glossy buckthorn shrubs and test methods, such as shading or planting of native species, to prevent recolonizing.
• We are enhancing the park’s work at the Great Meadow to restore natural water flow, improve aquatic organism passage, and enrich species diversity.