Protect Ancient Forests believes in the power of collaboration.
Creativity leads to Awe
Education leads to Awareness
Inspiration leads to Action
Protect Ancient Forests is co-hosting a series of:
Roadless Rule Public Meetings
Norway, ME / Hanover, NH / Freeport, ME
Protect Ancient Forests is raising awareness about the most pressing threat facing our forests. 45 million acres of roadless National Forests — some of the most wild and spectacular ecosystems that remain on federal public lands — are about to lose critical protections. Together, we can put a stop to it.
The following opportunities exist to make your voice heard:
Roadless Rule Public Meeting – Western Maine
Monday, May 18, 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
First Universalist Church, 471 Main Street in Norway, ME
Roadless Rule Public Meeting – New Hampshire
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, 40 College Street in Hanover, NH
Roadless Rule Public Meeting - Southern Maine
Date & time - TBD
Patagonia Outlet, 100 Main St. in Freeport, ME
The Roadless Rule protects wild National Forests nationwide, including over 260,000 roadless acres across the White and Green Mountain National Forests. The current Administration is attempting to rescind this landmark public land protection without holding a single public meeting, so grassroots groups across the country are organizing our own. Join us to learn about what is at stake and make your voice heard!
Protect Ancient Forests presented:
Climate Aid: The Voice of the Forest
Merrill Auditorium — Portland, Maine
Protect Ancient Forests held a legendary environmental event featuring music, poetry, art and advocacy — with one-of-a-kind appearances by:
Maggie Rogers (GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer / songwriter / performer), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Penobscot Nation Ambassador Maulian Dana Bryant, Alisa Amador (2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner), Oshima Brothers, Halcyon String Quartet, organist James Kennerley, poets Beth Ann Fennelly and Gary Lawless, Protect Ancient Forest founders Michael & Alyssa O’Brien, as well as environmental legends Bill McKibben, Terry Tempest Williams, and Rick Bass.
The event benefited the creative grassroots environmental movement to protect the ancient “Black Ram” forest in Montana’s Yaak Valley—as well as all remaining mature and old-growth forests on U.S. public lands.
Event program can be viewed here.
Press release can be viewed here.
Painting with ARRT!
Protect Ancient Forests partners with Maine-based art collective, the Artists’ Rapid Response Team (aka ARRT!), for banner painting projects. Over the course of several sessions, community members and youth climate activists have joined forces to learn about the importance of ancient forests and to create art that to be shared in spaces, including on the steps of Portland’s City Hall, as well as at our inaugural Climate Aid: The Voice of the Forest event.
Light Projections with LumenARRT!
Protect Ancient Forests partnered with the creative visionaries at LumenARRT! — via the Union of Maine Visual Artists — to create a series of large-scale ancient forest themed animations that were projected onto the facade of Portland’s City Hall on the evening of Climate Aid: The Voice of the Forest.
Over the course of many collaborative sessions, and one dress rehearsal, this grand vision came to life and turned downtown Portland, Maine into an old growth forest for a night — creating an enchanting environment that inspired both attendees and passerby, creatively raising awareness about these irreplaceable ecosystems.
