You've never heard of this group but it may hold the key to your recreational future. The Landowner and Sportsmen Relations Advisory Board was created in 2003 by the Legislature, but it took Gov. John Baldacci two full years to appoint its members -- perhaps an indication that this important issue is a low priority in this administration. Ironically, appointees to this board, including yours truly, received confirmation letters from Baldacci dated May 23, 2005, exactly two years from the day when the governor signed into law the bill that created this board.

As Maine's tradition of public access to, and across, private land continues to evaporate, the importance of maintaining a good relationship between landowners and recreationists is paramount. So far, neither state agencies nor recreationists as a group have been able to foster the type of relationship and programs that will sustain this wonderful tradition of neighborly access.

Without question, the advisory board has struggled to gain any momentum on the key issues of public access to private land. A predecessor group to the current Advisory Board was also ineffective.

The board's outspoken chair, Dave Peppard, expressed his frustration in a June 7 memo to board members, reporting, "Since 2002, the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Landowner Relations Program has deteriorated to a point of being basically non-existent."

Peppard should know. The retired game warden once headed the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's landowner relations program. After he retired, the department downgraded the program to just 10 percent of one warden's time.

Perhaps we have focused too strongly on the government to lead this effort. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been reluctant to tackle the job of maintaining good relations between landowners and sportsmen.

In fact, this legislative session the department opposed a bill proposed by the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (for which I work) to create a landowner relations position in the department's Information and Education Division. A bill proposed by the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine to establish landowner relations as a part of the mission of the Maine Warden Service was also opposed by the department.

An outside professional assessment of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in 2004 offered some explanation of the problems, criticizing the department for "putting a good warden in this (landowner relations) position so he can be a sergeant, instead of filling the position with the right person, warden or not, (which) can lead to program ineffectiveness."

The assessment was performed by the Management Assistance Team of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and reported that "the landowner relations position would work well as a direct arm of the Commissioner, more high profile, using a broad range of skills and experience as well as sound comprehension of laws and regulations and law enforcement protocols."

The team's recommendations were the basis for the bills submitted by SAM and the Small Woodland Owners. The department's opposition was disappointing.

The Landowner and Sportsmen Relations Advisory Board could be the solution to this challenge. Peppard said as much, recently challenging his board to "develop a comprehensive landowner relations program that can be presented to the Legislature."

I believe the guiding principles for a landowner relations program should include the following:

n Funding must come from all recreationists.

n The state's program must be consolidated in and directed by one state agency, with all state conservation agencies contributing staff and other resources. Landowner relations should be part of the mission of each conservation agency and especially the Maine Warden Service.

n Services must include information and education (for both landowners and recreationists), enforcement of laws and rules governing users of private land and assistance to landowners who encounter problems or have questions. A free 800 telephone number should be available for landowners with questions or problems. A Web site should be established and maintained with up-to-date and comprehensive information, and television and print ads should be used seasonally.

n Delivery of services must occur primarily at the grassroots through clubs and other organizations (ATV, Snowmobile, Fish and Game), and participating clubs and organizations should receive most of the money collected by the state for this program.

Elements of the program should have measurable results that can be tracked and reported regularly, including landowner complaints to, and responses by, the Maine Warden Service.

Finally, responsibility for creating positive relationships with the private landowners who allow public access to and use of their land must rest with the individuals who benefit. Asking for permission to access and use private land and thanking landowners after you do, are your responsibility and the only guarantee that these opportunities will continue.

George Smith is executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine. He lives in Mount Vernon and can be reached at george@samcef.org.