Cover Story piece on the 185,000 acre St. John River acquisition made by The N

Cover Story piece on the 185,000 acre St. John River acquisition made by The Nature Conservancy\u27s Maine chapter almost a year ago. At $35.1 million, it represents the conservancy\u27s largest financial commitment anywhere in the world. Virtually overnight it set a new standard for what a state land preservation group can do. Executive Director Kent Wommack says $25.5 million of the total price has already been raised. Wagner Forest Management is in charge of cutting operations and is managing the lands for high quality spruce and fir logs. Josh Royte, a conservation planner with the conservancy, said some of the trees in the Desolation Brook area might be more than 300 years old. And biologist Paul Brunelle is excited about the dragonflies and damselflies he is finding, which are prime indicators of the health of streams, ponds and wetlands. With a list of the biggest financial contributors and related articles on other conservation groups and easement proposals that some of them are considering