Governor Praises Partnership to Protect 6,714 Acres of Conservation Lands on the Altamaha River

Atlanta—September 20, 2006— In what many state leaders are recognizing as an outstanding partnership to protect conservation lands, the State of Georgia today closed on 6,714 acres in Long and McIntosh counties creating the Townsend Wildlife Management Area (WMA). 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. It is part of approximately 24,120 acres of forestland in the Altamaha River watershed secured by The Nature Conservancy through an agreement with International Paper. This agreement, announced in March 2006, includes more than 218,000 acres of divested lands in 10 southeastern states.

"Thanks to the Land Conservation Program, the state is able to partner with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and private industry to protect conservation lands," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "The Nature Conservancy's larger agreement with International Paper allows us to acquire a significant tract of land and protect a sensitive habitat."

This acquisition is part of the Governor’s Land Conservation Program, which 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. Working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) acquired the Townsend WMA through an innovative combination of fee simple acquisition and a conservation easement for $5,750,000.

"This agreement is a win-win for the people of Georgia and its wildlife," said DNR 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."

DNR purchased 2,369 acres of riverine sandhill habitat known as the Sand Ridge Tract along the Altamaha River at a cost of $2,770,600 using a U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Grant, state general obligation bonds and a private foundation donation. In addition, DNR acquired a 4,344-acre conservation easement that allows for further protection of this sensitive habitat at a cost of $2,979,400 that was funded through state general obligation bonds and a private foundation donation.

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.

"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 for future generations," said Tavia McCuean, vice president and state director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.

As part of the agreement, The Nature Conservancy purchased the Sand Ridge Tract from IP and then sold this tract to DNR. However, before making the sale to DNR, The Nature Conservancy sold the timber rights to approximately 1,563 acres of the upland habitat currently planted in non-native pines on this tract to Forest Investment Associates (FIA) Georgia, a Timber Investment Management Organization (TIMO). This step reduced 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. FIA retains the right to harvest this timber for 11 years.

The Nature Conservancy contracted to purchase the 4,344-acre conservation easement tract from IP and assigned the contract to FIA, while retaining the right to purchase a conservation easement over this tract. The Nature Conservancy sold the right to acquire the conservation easement to DNR and, as part of the land sale agreement, required FIA to deliver the conservation easement to DNR. The conservation easement includes 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 allows FIA 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. 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.

For more information on Townsend WMA, contact the Brunswick Regional Game Management Office by calling (912) 262-3173.