Impacts of Development & Climate Change

The Bar Harbor Garden Club is pleased to present “Impacts of Development and Climate Change” with Aaron Dority, Executive Director of Frenchman Bay Conservancy, on January 12, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Birch Bay Retirement Village, 25 Village Inn Road, Bar Harbor.

Photograph courtesy of Aaron Dority.

The conservation, stewardship and health of Frenchman Bay are continuously facing challenges due to climate change and shifting development patterns. Aaron will discuss current challenges and opportunities involved in protecting the scenic vistas, sandy beaches, forests, fields, rocky coastlines and mudflats that we all love and enjoy.

Over FBC’s 35 year history, they have conserved over 13,000 acres of distinctive ecosystems, lands, and waters from the Union River and Frenchman Bay watersheds east to the Hancock County line using conservation easements and preserves.

A few of FBC’s new exciting projects are in Ellsworth, the heart of Maine’s fastest growing city. The Ellsworth Riverwalk, and the Jordan Homestead Preserve are excellent examples of FBC conservation and stewardship work. FBC and their community partners recently completed the tree-lined riverwalk, located behind the Ellsworth Public Library on State Street. The Riverwalk showcases the beauty of the Lower Union River just a short, few minutes’ walk from Main Street. Jordan Homestead Preserve is a 31-acre property featuring a one-mile lollipop trail that offers views of 3,000 feet of frontage on the Union River, mature forestland, and a stretch of the scenic Whittaker Brook. The field at Jordan Homestead is also home to an urban tree farm nursery which was established through a partnership between FBC, Green Ellsworth, and the Ellsworth Garden Club.

Aaron joined FBC in 2014 as Executive Director. He oversees fundraising to support programs, managing staff and contractors and works directly with landowners to protect land. He often works in partnership with Maine Coast Heritage Trust and other local land trusts and organizations to accomplish regional land conservation goals. Prior to joining FBC, Aaron was the Federal Policy Director for Penobscot East Resource Center, now Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries in Stonington.

The Club meeting will begin at 1:00 PM with a 1-hour talk by the guest speaker including ample time for questions. The speaker will be followed by a Bar Harbor Garden Club business meeting.

All are welcome to join the speaker presentation and Club meeting. This presentation is one of the monthly programs offered by the Bar Harbor Garden Club to the public. We do ask club members and guests to make a reservation by emailing Jane Sanderson, president@barharborgardenclub.org or calling 207-460-8496. Please register early, as there is a limited capacity of forty for the in-person meeting at Birch Bay Village due to Covid-19 protocols.