The Nature Conservancy Applauds Congressional Support in the Forest Legacy Project FY2006 Budget

$2 Million from Forest Legacy Project Budget Slated for Protection Efforts Along the Altamaha River

Atlanta —August 10, 2005 — The Nature Conservancy today applauded Congressional action to fund land protection efforts along the Altamaha River with $2 million from Forest Legacy Project Fiscal Year 2006 monies.

In late July, the House and Senate appropriations committees filed their joint conference report on the Department of Interior Appropriations bill. Final approval by the Congress is expected this week. The President is expected to sign the bill into law in August.

"The Altamaha River is home to some of Georgia’s most critical freshwater habitat," said Tavia McCuean, vice president and state director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia. "The support of Sen. Saxby Chambliss was essential to ensuring that this precious river system will continue to thrive and provide numerous benefits to Georgia’s communities."

"I am pleased to help secure this important funding that will protect the healthy natural habitat along the Altamaha River," said Chambliss. "The bottomland hardwood forests, freshwater tidal cypress-tupelo forests, high quality bluff forests, and remnants of longleaf pine forests will continue to flourish as a result of this program."

Along with applauding the Sen. Chambliss, McCuean also recognizes the support of U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, a longtime champion of the Forest Legacy program and whose district the Altamaha River project is located.

"I was pleased that we were able to help secure these funds to help ensure the continuity and longevity of one of Georgia's greatest rivers," said Kingston. "The Nature Conservancy has long been a strong advocate for the Altamaha River, and it has been a helpful partner in the effort to preserve and protect it."

The Altamaha River watershed is one of the three largest river basins and ranks among the most biologically rich river systems along the Atlantic seaboard. The Nature Conservancy has actively played a role in protecting the Altamaha River since the 1960s, resulting in more than 37,000 acres of land in the lower Altamaha River watershed protected to date.

In addition to the Altamaha River corridor funding, Georgia was also a recipient of $250,000 in Forest Legacy funds to help protect critical natural areas in Paulding County.

The Forest Legacy Program is a partnership between the United States Forest Service (USFS), state governments and private landowners that identifies and protects ecologically important forest habitat which is threatened by possible development or unsustainable practices. Program objectives are met through land acquisition or the use of conservation easements, which protect working forests while meeting important conservation goals.

Since its first appropriations in Fiscal Year 1992, the Forest Legacy Program has conserved over one million acres across 29 states and territories. This program has also provided excellent leverage of the forest conservation federal investment by protecting over $384 million of land value with a Federal investment of $198 million.