local economy – fisheries , forest products , wild blueberries , and outdoor recreation and tourism being the most predominant . Traditional outdoor activities are still deeply ingrained in local culture including hunting , fishing , guiding , paddling , and seasonal harvests of wild plants . Strong resource management ethics support these industries today and enable our Downeast communities to continue their valued quality of life .
The region has a long-standing culture of sustainable resource management due to the economic and survival dependence on intact resources . The large scale of resource management in Downeast Maine can , and in some cases already does , serve as a model for other similarly resource dependent areas and offer leadership nationally . preservation ; commercial fisheries management and access ; open space , farming , and forestry management on private lands ; access to land and water for hunting , fishing , and outdoor recreation ; heritage tourism ; and heritage education .
These efforts are increasingly carried out within the uncertainty of a warming climate . The Gulf of Maine , upon which commercial fisheries , habitat , and tourism are dependent , is warming faster than any other ocean on the planet . Insects , warming temperatures , drought , and other climate-related changes are affecting important forest and agricultural industries , and cultural resources . Identifying solutions to climate and landscape changes will allow people and nature to continue to thrive together for generations to come .
Resource management initiatives include wildlife habitat and ecosystem
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