MathWorks $10 Million Gift Accelerates Permanent Protection of Maine's Barnard Forest

The Appalachian Mountain Club has completed the acquisition of the Barnard Forest in Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness thanks to a transformative $10 million gift from MathWorks. This acquisition secures nearly 29,000 acres of globally significant habitat and marks a major milestone in the Appalachian Mountain Club's landmark Maine Woods Initiative, which now totals 127,710 acres.

The gift from MathWorks, the second-largest philanthropic contribution in AMC's history, enabled the organization to finalize its purchase of the Barnard Forest from The Conservation Fund and The Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation years ahead of schedule, accelerating conservation outcomes in one of the most ecologically important landscapes in the eastern United States. Nicole Zussman, President and CEO of AMC, stated that the gift is catalytic and enables the organization to safeguard an irreplaceable landscape, ensuring its health, access, and biodiversity are permanently protected.

The Barnard Forest lies within the Pleasant River watershed, home to the last naturally reproducing population of landlocked salmon in Maine. The forest includes more than 70 miles of stream corridors, critical spawning grounds for endangered sea-run Atlantic salmon, extensive spruce-fir flats, and associated wetlands that provide cold-water habitat for native brook trout and landlocked smelt. The land protects an uninterrupted, undeveloped forest from the Appalachian Trail highlands to the main stem of the Pleasant River, creating a total continuous conserved land of over 750,000 acres.

This conservation milestone was made possible through AMC's strategic partnership with The Conservation Fund, which collaborated to successfully protect this vital place to create lasting benefits for Maine, local residents, and the region's many visitors. Under the Appalachian Mountain Club's stewardship, the Barnard Forest will support restoration forestry, habitat connectivity, and climate adaptation. The property will be managed to Forest Stewardship Council standards, with plans to rebuild older forest conditions and expand carbon stocking, which is an integral part of the organization's broader climate strategy.

The forest also contributes to rural economic growth by helping support more than 50 forestry- and recreation-related jobs and reinforcing the AMC's $8.39 million annual economic impact in the region. Steve Tatko, Vice President of Land and Conservation for the Appalachian Mountain Club, emphasized that Barnard represents a true convergence of conservation opportunity, ecological importance, and public benefit. After being closed to the public for nearly 20 years, the land will now remain open to future generations for fishing, hunting, recreation, and cultural use, including tribal access.

Initial funding for this project came from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the EJK Foundation, and other lead individuals and foundations. AMC's three-year campaign to protect and reopen Barnard Forest resulted in nearly $24 million in gifts, grants, and program-related investments. MathWorks completed the purchase with its transformative $10 million donation, part of its commitment to sustainability and science-based climate solutions. Jeanne O'Keefe, MathWorks SVP and CFO, stated that supporting the permanent protection of Barnard Forest reflects the company's commitment to solutions that scale, endure, and benefit both people and the planet.

The Barnard Forest acquisition is part of AMC's Maine Woods Initiative, the largest multi-use conservation and recreation project in the eastern United States. With this addition, the initiative now encompasses nearly 130,000 contiguous acres—an area nearly three times the size of Acadia National Park. This permanent protection ensures the conservation of critical wildlife habitat, maintains ecological connectivity, supports climate resilience efforts, and provides sustainable economic benefits to local communities while preserving public access to one of Maine's most significant natural landscapes.