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Georgia's Forest Legacy Program Acquires First Property

Atlanta, GA—October 5, 2004—Forest Legacy, a federal program protecting environmentally important forestlands, has acquired its first Georgia property with the transferal of a 350-acre tract near The Nature Conservancy’s existing Broxton Rocks Preserve to the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC).

Located in Coffee County near Douglas, the tract is adjacent to an existing preserve owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy and a 140-acre tract owned by Coffee County.  The transition of this tract to the Forest Legacy Program marks a vital collaboration of public and private efforts to protect Georgia’s largest remaining sandstone outcrop and its associated plant and animal communities.

“We are grateful for the commitment of our partners, particularly Coffee County, the GFC, and U.S. Representative Jack Kingston and Senators Saxby Chambliss and Zell Miller,” said Tavia McCuean, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.

The protected area provides a much needed buffer for the surrounding protected tracts and allows The Nature Conservancy to continue land management activities, such as controlled burns, which are vital to the health of the longleaf pine ecosystem serving as refuge for plants and animals.

“Broxton Rocks is truly one of Georgia’s great natural treasures,” said Congressman Jack Kingston.  “The continued protection of the Broxton Rocks has been possible through President Bush’s support for the Forest Legacy Program and efforts of partners like The Nature Conservancy, Georgia Forestry Commission, and Coffee County.”

The federal Forest Legacy Program, which provided $500,000 in funding to acquire and transfer the 350 acres at the north end of the tract to the Georgia Forestry Commission, is a partnership effort between the U.S. Forest Service, state government, conservation organizations, and private landowners.  The 140-acre Coffee County tract was acquired using funding from Georgia Greenspace and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LCWF).

“Forests provide many benefits to our citizens,” said Rick Hatten, GFC Chief of Forest Management.  “Forests protect water quality, help to clean air, provide wildlife habitat, and are a source of many of the products we use daily.  The Forest Legacy Program is an excellent tool we have now to conserve working forests and protect them from conversion to other uses.”