# data[].attributes.headline
SCENARIO ONE: Natural Resources and Climate Change

# data[].attributes.subject
SCENARIO ONE: Natural Resources and Climate Change

# data[].attributes.body
CEDS goal: Accomplish 50 new farm businesses/jobs, increase net income to farmers by 10%, expand acres under production by 5,000 and increase value added production. By 2023, increase marine-related employment by 250 jobs through expansion of research, harvest, and processing.

SCENARIO:
By the end of 2023, effects from climate change, which have been increasingly more disruptive over the last five years, began to significantly impact the lives and careers of those in northern and Downeast Maine. Aroostook County had just experienced the driest summer on record, easily surpassing the previous record.

In the beginning of that year, the federal government worked to increase carbon pricing nationwide to encourage forest carbon projects. The state government in Maine created a program to increase the state’s percentage of forested land from 89% to 92.3% by 2030 and included generous incentives for landholders to reforest or delay some forestry projects.

The Gulf of Maine continued to be one of the fastest warming bodies of water on the planet, and average temperatures increased by almost 0.5 degrees from 2021 to 2023. Ironically, the drastic cold snap of early November 2023 caused a record 1,545 sea turtles to wash up on the beach, unable to escape the rapid water cooling. This brought national attention to the record warming in the Gulf of Maine, and additional government funding to identify ways to adapt to these changes. Local aquaculture companies welcome the additional interest and investment but are concerned that it may lead to even tighter restrictions on lobster and shellfish catch.

The wild blueberry fields of Down East Maine continue to warm faster than other areas in the state. So far, this small but important temperature difference has not resulted in the record droughts experienced in other parts of the state, but farmers in the area are beginning to increase mitigation efforts, including adding wood mulch to more of their fields and improving and expanding irrigation systems. Although the fields of Downeast Maine were warming, many other agricultural areas around the United States were experiencing even worse changes. California droughts and wildfires continued to bankrupt or otherwise displace major farming operations, and farms in the Midwest struggled through increasingly destructive summer storms and intermittent droughts. Some large agricultural conglomerates began looking at possible locations in Downeast Maine to move some corn production and in Aroostook County for soybean production.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Memo - Adpative Planning Session 1 Key Findings - NMDC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Memo - Stakeholder and Business Survey - NMDC Resiliency Strategy

# data[].attributes.body
Scenario 1: Natural Resources

Scenario 2: Connectivity & Digital Transformation

Scenario 3: Changing Workforce

Scenario 4: Energy Evolution

Scenario 5: Manufacturing & Supply Chain

# data[].attributes.body
Pressure on housing and other infrastructure in towns.

# data[].attributes.body
recent purchases of commercial woodland by investment groups could make it easier to change large areas in the central and northern parts of Wash Co to corn production

# data[].attributes.body
Higher risk to lakes, streams and estuaries from agricultural use of fertilizers run-off

# data[].attributes.headline
Opportunity to pursue farming that works in harmony with the forest

# data[].attributes.subject
Opportunity to pursue farming that works in harmony with the forest

# data[].attributes.body
droughts, extreme heat, or extreme cold could impact food security and individual and family safety. Family and community gardens and farms of all sizes are impacted by extreme weather. Individual and family capacity to be warm enough in winter and cool enough in summer are also of concern.

# data[].attributes.headline
climate change: More people will visit Maine for on vacation and looking for homes. Our forests are going to be changing and insects/pathogens/immigrating species affecting our woods, waters, and daily lives; but we'll still be a lot cooler than southern New England, southern and more western states

# data[].attributes.subject
climate change: More people will visit Maine for on vacation and looking for homes. Our forests are going to be changing and insects/pathogens/immigrating species affecting our woods, waters, and daily lives; but we'll still be a lot cooler than southern New England, southern and more western states

# data[].attributes.headline
Increase in farming resulting in increased pollution from farm pesticide and chemical usage.

# data[].attributes.subject
Increase in farming resulting in increased pollution from farm pesticide and chemical usage.

# data[].attributes.body
An effect of climate change is the warming of the ocean waters. This will impact the fishing industry as a number of creatures are moving north. Washington County as a whole will be greatly impacted by this loss of income and revenue.

# data[].attributes.body
My understanding was that climate change would make Maine wetter on average, but if there were droughts in Southern Aroostook or Washington County, forest fires could be a major issue.

# data[].attributes.body
Support of organic practices to reduce pollution of water and soil

# data[].attributes.body
potential loss of small farms (and small farm way-of-life) if large agricultural operations come to the region and take over land/markets.

# data[].attributes.body
Forest or farmland being sold to developers for house lots for those moving to Maine.

# data[].attributes.body
The culture and practices of each town will be challenged with an influx of folks from larger communities with more comprehensive zoning and regulations

# data[].attributes.body
The blueberry and wreath industries hire migrant workers to fill the workforce needs.  Turning blueberry fields and woodlands into corn fields will have a major impact on these seasonal opportunities.

# data[].attributes.body
identify areas of the unorganized territories with soils suitable for crop production and the service center communities that could serve development there

# data[].attributes.body
Expand capacity and infrastructure to respond equitably to basic needs in emergency situations (blizzards, floods, etc.).

# data[].attributes.body
for forestry especially for private landowners

# data[].attributes.headline
Large land owners may develop recreational communities. Smaller land owners may promote campgrounds .Fuel prices will go up significantly promting change to Electric vehicles. E Bikes will proliferate as affordable transportation, at least for 8 months of the year.

# data[].attributes.subject
Large land owners may develop recreational communities. Smaller land owners may promote campgrounds .Fuel prices will go up significantly promting change to Electric vehicles. E Bikes will proliferate as affordable transportation, at least for 8 months of the year.

# data[].attributes.body
An impact of climate change is the warming of the ocean waters.  many fish are moving north including lobsters.  Washington County will be impacted from the loss of revenue and income for fishermen.

# data[].attributes.headline
Proactive scenario conversations like this at the municipal level that includes tax-payers.

# data[].attributes.subject
Proactive scenario conversations like this at the municipal level that includes tax-payers.

# data[].attributes.body
high debt levels in commercial fishing and farming businesses could make them more vulnerable to these changes and reduce their ability to adapt through new investment

# data[].attributes.body
It may be beneficial for the forests and the communities if there was regional management of growth so that forest fires are less of a threat.

# data[].attributes.body
Increasing youth and young adult voice and participation in scenario planning like this.

# data[].attributes.headline
Create more Future Farmer and Forestry programs in HS and College

# data[].attributes.subject
Create more Future Farmer and Forestry programs in HS and College

# data[].attributes.body
As the Maine continues to warm. On the ocean and in the wild blueberry fields, part of our cultural and history will disappear with it.  These two industries play a major part of in our family stories.  Plus Lobster fishing and Maine Wild Blueberries have a big financial impart on the region, if these two industries disappear it will great affect the financial wellbeing of Washington County

# data[].attributes.body
Increased regulation due to whales migrating as well as lobsters mean fewer fishing opportunities - and fewer opportunities for marine-based aquaculture as well. Clam "gardening" and other shellfish aquaculture could help to fill gaps.

# data[].attributes.headline
Increase UMaine extension education and outreach around conservation measures and federal/state incentive programs.

# data[].attributes.subject
Increase UMaine extension education and outreach around conservation measures and federal/state incentive programs.

# data[].attributes.body
Rather than letting growth take place as sprawl, tax and investment incentives that encourage growth of business in designated service center communities so that infrastructure can be expanded more strategically and efficiently.

# data[].attributes.body
The results of 2022 elections may impact how proactive we can be.

# data[].attributes.headline
Educate the public about changing climate, its impact, and potential countermeasure and ways to adapt. Encourage reuse, repurposing, and recycling. Promote Complete Streets program so people can safely walk and bicycle to school and work.

# data[].attributes.subject
Educate the public about changing climate, its impact, and potential countermeasure and ways to adapt. Encourage reuse, repurposing, and recycling. Promote Complete Streets program so people can safely walk and bicycle to school and work.

# data[].attributes.body
delaying forestry projects would directly impact jobs in a concentrated industry

# data[].attributes.body
Introduce new ways of farming, hydroponics, aquaponics, etc.

# data[].attributes.headline
Collaborative planning across mini-regions within a county.

# data[].attributes.subject
Collaborative planning across mini-regions within a county.

# data[].attributes.body
Getting towns together to grow their capacity to work together

# data[].attributes.body
Many farmers and lobster fisherman are using Agritourism to help with increasing business or to help support the family

# data[].attributes.headline
Support programs for farmers struggling with financial and mental health issues.

# data[].attributes.subject
Support programs for farmers struggling with financial and mental health issues.

# data[].attributes.body
Exciting energy in the Nature Based Education Consortium in Maine related to this topic, https://www.nbeconsortium.com/