Delaware Chapter of The Nature Conservancy Acquires Conservation Easement on 149-Acres Near Lewes

By transferring Development Rights on the property to TNC, the owner fulfills a legacy promise made to his grandfather to safeguard the family property

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE — March 9, 2007 — The Delaware Chapter of The Nature Conservancy finalized a purchase of development rights and conservation easement last week on a large tract of land along the Beaverdam Creek in a rapidly developing area of Sussex County where open space is quickly disappearing. The 149-acre property owned by the Goody family, and known locally as Burton Farm, contains both mature forest and farmland. The property includes a coastal forest thick with stands of poplar, oak, beech, and hickory. With this acquisition and the easement‘s maintenance stipulations, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) can ensure that the property will be maintained as a healthy habitat for biodiversity for all future generations.

“When my grandfather bequeathed this land to me, he requested that it remain in the family for sentimental reasons,” shared John Goody, a retired Marine Corps officer and environmental consultant residing in Kaneohe, Hawaii. “Even though we no longer live on the east coast, the value of this land to our family and to Delaware’s natural heritage far outweigh any profit we would gain.”

Roger L. Jones, Director, Delaware Chapter of The Nature Conservancy reports, “Delaware has already lost 80% of its forest lands and preserving what is still left is crucial. More than 130 acres of the Goody property is forest. Protecting such a large tract of remaining forest with numerous large oak and tulip poplars, is at the heart of the Conservancy’s mission to preserve the diversity of life on earth by protecting the lands and waters that all living creatures need to survive.”

According to Andrew Manus, Director of Conservation Programs at TNC’s Delaware Chapter, “Protecting this land is a large step toward improving water quality in the area and the state. Because it is situated along a portion of Beaverdam Creek, the forest serves as a filter for Beaverdam Creek—a tributary of the Broadkill River—and the exceptional water quality extends downstream to the Great Marsh and ultimately to the Delaware Bay—two areas of priority for the Conservancy.”

The Goody property also provides key habitat for a variety of wildlife. Radar studies indicate that the forest canopy here provides food and shelter for migratory songbirds and raptors that travel up the Atlantic coast each year. A healthy understory of blueberry, holly, sassafras, and other bushes and shrubs nourish ground dwelling animals including deer, turkey and a variety of insects.

Financial support for this $1.1 million project will come from a combination of sources including a $428,000 grant from Sussex County Council that was received with the assistance of the Sussex County Land Trust. The Delaware Chapter of TNC is continuing to raise funds from local foundations and private donors, in order to complete the purchase. A short-term loan from the Conservancy allowed the chapter to go to closing.

Gifts to the Conservancy, earmarked for the Burton Farm/Goody property, should be directed to The Nature Conservancy Attn: Goody Property Easement Campaign, 100 West 10th Street, Suite 1107, Wilmington, DE 19801

For pictures contact Debbie Heaton at 302-654-4707 ext 124 or dheaton@tnc.org. For more information about John Goody, the Goody property, or the Great Marsh contact Andy Manus at 302-684-5351, 302-584-5683(cell) or amanus@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to protect the most ecologically important lands and waters around the world for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.