None The Nature Conservancy in Georgia Press Releases Search All Press Releases I Ling Matthews Phone: (404) 253-7246 Email: imatthews@tnc.org

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commends Conservation Efforts of The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy Saves Georgia More Than $4,890,000 in Land Acquisitions

Atlanta—January 25, 2006—In a resolution adopted this week, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recognized The Nature Conservancy in Georgia for its continuing leadership in conservation practices and for saving the state more than $4,890,000 during 2005.

"We are indebted to The Nature Conservancy for their continued support and for the close partnership we share in helping to protect these critical lands for future generations of Georgians," said Noel Holcomb, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources."

Specifically, The Nature Conservancy served as an intermediary for the Georgia DNR to acquire and transfer four tracts of land totaling just over 11,921 acres along the Altamaha River, which is one of the three largest river basins on the Atlantic seaboard and ranks among the most biologically rich river systems in the eastern United States.  To date, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 57,000 acres along the Altamaha River. 

“It is our mission to preserve the lands and waters that people, plants and animals need to survive,” said Tavia McCuean, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.  “With the price of land increasing and more forested land up for sale in Georgia, we believe that The Nature Conservancy must invest in the conservation of these properties or risk losing them to development forever.” 

The transactions acknowledged in the resolution included:

• Clayhole Swamp (5,242.95 acres) in Glynn County.  The Nature Conservancy purchased the tract for $7,314,742 and transferred it to the GA DNR for $5,330,609.

• Penholoway Swamp (4,269.75 acres) in Wayne County.  The Nature Conservancy purchased the tract for $5,956,990 and transferred it to the GA DNR for $4,341,144.

• Broxton Rocks (1,935.75 acres) in Coffee and Jeff Davis counties.  The Nature Conservancy purchased the tract for $2,370,305 and transferred it to the GA DNR for $1,918,985.

• Dukes Pond Natural Area (473.52 acres) in Jenkins County.  The Nature Conservancy owned this property, valued at $750,000, and donated it to the state.

The Clayhole and Penholoway Swamp acquisitions allowed the DNR to increase the overall acreage of the state’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), which provides for the protection of natural and high priority imperiled species like the swallow-tailed kite, the gopher tortoise and a total of 14.3 miles of scenic river frontage along the Altamaha River.

“Thanks to our partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy was able to help conserve these lands, resulting in the protection of nearly 12,000 acres of scenic and ecologically significant land,” said McCuean.

The Broxton Rocks WMA tract is located adjacent to 9,833 acres of land already protected through the state, a Nature Conservancy preserve and Coffee County.  The Dukes Pond Natural Area provides improved management capability for the ecologically important Carolina bay, which is a wood stork rookery and habitat for the federally listed Canby’s dropwort.

About The Nature Conservancy
As one of the leading land and water conservation organizations in the world, The Nature Conservancy is uniquely defined by its ability to protect and manage land at a global and local level.  To date, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 117 million acres in 28 countries. 

Throughout its 37 year history of on-the-ground conservation work in Georgia, The Nature Conservancy has helped to protect more than 241,000 acres of longleaf pine forests, barrier islands, floodplain swamps, rock outcrops and other threatened natural areas throughout Georgia.  In addition to purchasing land, The Nature Conservancy currently manages 17 preserves and assists with the management of more than 21,000 acres of land.