The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) announced the completion of its acquisition of the Barnard Forest in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness, thanks to a transformative $10 million gift from MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software. This acquisition secures nearly 29,000 acres of globally significant habitat and marks a major milestone in the AMC’s 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. Nicole Zussman, President and CEO of AMC, said, “This gift from MathWorks is more than generous — it’s catalytic. It enables us to safeguard an irreplaceable landscape, ensuring its health, access, and biodiversity are permanently protected.”
The Barnard Forest, a nearly 29,000-acre working forest in Piscataquis County, 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. The land protects an uninterrupted, undeveloped forest from the Appalachian Trail highlands to the main stem of the Pleasant River, a total continuous conserved land of over 750,000 acres.
This conservation milestone was made possible through AMC’s partnership with The Conservation Fund. In 2023, The Conservation Fund and The Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation jointly acquired the southern portion of the Barnard property, giving AMC time to raise funds. Tom Duffus, the Fund’s vice president, said, “This is precisely the type of meaningful, high-impact work The Conservation Fund was created to tackle.”
Under AMC’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. 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. The property will remain on the tax rolls of Piscataquis County.
Steve Tatko, Vice President of Land and Conservation for AMC, noted, “Barnard represents a true convergence of conservation opportunity, ecological importance, and public benefit. This land was closed to the public for nearly 20 years. Thanks to MathWorks, The Conservation Fund, and countless donors, it will now remain open to future generations.”
Initial funding for the 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 a transformative $10 million donation. Jeanne O’Keefe, MathWorks SVP and CFO, said, “At MathWorks, we believe in solutions that scale, endure, and benefit both people and the planet. Supporting the permanent protection of Barnard Forest reflects this commitment.”
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. Since its founding in 1876, AMC has led major conservation milestones, including advocacy for the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. Under Nicole Zussman’s leadership, the organization is building a legacy rooted in science, scaled through partnership, and focused on lasting impact.
