People living year-round in the Moosehead Lake region depend on nature-based recreation and tourism. In fact, tourism is one of three "pillars" in the local economy, along with service center businesses and sustainable forestry.

For more than a century, Moosehead's remote character has lured visitors here from all over the United States and beyond.

But the Moosehead region is much more than a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. It is home to nearly 3,000 people who are working and raising their families here.

One hundred years ago, the busiest time for tourism in the Moosehead region was during summer. Today, those trends have changed and the region has adapted, turning to winter activities, such as snowmobiling, skiing and ice fishing.

Unfortunately, there are risks associated with relying upon Mother Nature for a sustainable source of income. The 2006 winter season was short on snow and unusually warm. Many local businesses suffered this winter, and they will have to struggle through the summer, only to hope for more snow next year.

Plum Creek believes in Moosehead's potential to be a four-season eco-tourism and recreational destination, which would benefit everyone from Greenville to Jackman and beyond.

According to the Maine Office of Tourism, 19 percent of all overnight trips to Maine in 2001 were to the Moosehead and Moose River Valley region — 817,000 altogether.

Nationally, traditional Moosehead activities are experiencing double-digit growth in popularity these days. Kayaking soared 173 percent between 1994 and 2001. In the same period, snowmobiling grew 63 percent; wildlife viewing 48 percent; hiking 44 percent; fishing 34 percent; and rafting 30 percent.

With so many people discovering outdoor recreation, what will it take for four-season eco-tourism and recreation-based businesses to enjoy a bright future in the Moosehead region?

It will take outdoor infrastructure – trails, lodging places, in-town support services, guides and outfitters. It will take the preservation of wildlife habitat and natural places.

And most importantly, it will require an assurance that the public can always access the land. That's where Plum Creek's plan comes in. It provides a historic offering of permanent conservation easements that guarantee public access and gives Moosehead what it needs most: predictability.