Board of Natural Resources Supports Conservation of 6,714 Acres Through Innovative Approach to Protect Sensitive Lands on the Altamaha River

Atlanta—June 28, 2006—The Board of Natural Resources has granted approval to Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff to proceed with the conservation of 6,714 acres in Long and McIntosh counties through an innovative combination of fee simple acquisition and a conservation easement. Working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, DNR will acquire 2,369 acres of riverine sandhill habitat along the Altamaha River known as the Sand Ridge Tract. In addition, DNR will acquire a 4,344-acre conservation easement that will allow for further protection of this sensitive habitat. DNR will name this property the Townsend Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

The Board’s action gives DNR the authority to present this transaction to the Georgia Land Conservation Council and the State Properties Commission in July. The 2,369-acres slated for acquisition through a fee simple purchase totals $2,770,600 and is proposed for funding through a U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Grant, state general obligation bonds and a private foundation donation. The cost of the conservation easement totals $2,979,400 and is proposed for funding through state general obligation bonds and a private foundation donation. This transaction is part of Governor Perdue’s Georgia Land Conservation Program.

"This agreement is a win-win for the people of Georgia and its wildlife," said Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Noel Holcomb. "By leveraging state funds with other sources, the ratio of federal and private dollars to state dollars is 2.3 to 1. We will be protecting a great tract of land along the Altamaha River and adding to our recreational resources for hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others."

The property has some of the highest quality sand ridges with scattered cypress ponds remaining on the Altamaha River. DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) has named this area as a high priority conservation target because of the number of rare or imperiled species supported by these habitats including gopher frogs, striped newts, gopher tortoises and indigo snakes.

This action will permanently protect lands that were put on the market as a result of the divesture of more than five million acres of timberland nationwide by International Paper Company (IP) and its subsidiaries. In March 2006, The Nature Conservancy announced an agreement with International Paper to purchase 24,120 acres of forestland in the Altamaha River watershed – one of the largest private upland conservation agreements in Georgia’s history and part of a larger 218,000 acre, 10-state agreement with International Paper.

"By working with private and public partners to make this land deal happen, we are safeguarding a wealth of biological diversity and ensuring continued recreational opportunities, tourism and the rural forest economy of south Georgia," said Tavia McCuean, vice president and state director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.

As part of the agreement, The Nature Conservancy will purchase the Sand Ridge Tract from IP and then sell this tract to DNR. However, before making the sale to DNR, The Nature Conservancy will sell the timber rights to approximately 1,593 acres of the upland habitat currently planted in non-native pines on this tract to Goodwood Georgia, a Timber Investment Management Organization (TIMO). This step reduces DNR’s acquisition costs and aids the agency’s long-term management plan to remove the non-native pines and replant them with longleaf pine. Goodwood will retain the right to harvest this timber for 11 years.

The Nature Conservancy also has a contract to purchase a 4,344-acre conservation easement tract from IP and then assign the contract to Goodwood, while retaining the right to purchase a conservation easement over this tract. The Nature Conservancy will then sell the right to acquire the conservation easement to DNR and, as part of the land sale agreement, will require Goodwood to deliver the conservation easement to DNR. The conservation easement will include recreation rights, allowing the public to drive motorized vehicles on designated roads during hunting seasons and travel by foot on the entire property year round. The conservation easement will allow Goodwood to harvest timber on approximately 2,700 acres of the uplands.

The Georgia Land Conservation Act (HB98), passed by the General Assembly in 2005, encourages long-term conservation and protection of the state’s natural, cultural and historic resources. It encourages partnerships between local governments, the DNR, other state and federal agencies and the private sector, with the intent of conserving Georgia’s most valued resources. The Georgia Land Conservation Council, which includes state agency heads and private citizens, is responsible for reviewing and approving all projects funded through this program.