Paulding County Citizens Vote to Protect 7,080 Acre Forest

The Nature Conservancy Pledges Its Support to Protect Paulding Forest

Atlanta—December 7, 2006— The Nature Conservancy applauds Paulding County voters for voting in favor of a $15 million bond referendum to protect 7,080 acres of forestland located 35 miles outside Atlanta, known as Paulding Forest.

The referendum passed following a grassroots effort, with support from the Conservancy, to ensure the land remains undeveloped and available for recreation. The Conservancy is now working with federal, state and local partners to help complete the transaction.

“As rapid growth threatens to destroy large forested areas like Paulding Forest, the overwhelming support of Paulding County voters for this referendum demonstrates great foresight to protect our remaining natural areas,” said Tavia McCuean, vice president and Georgia state director of The Nature Conservancy. “At a price tag of $45 million, Paulding Forest represents conservation at its best as it will leverage a combination of private dollars and public funds from the local, state and federal levels.”

Part of the 25,000-acre Paulding County Wildlife Management Area, Paulding Forest is currently owned by the Jones Company, LLC, which leases the property to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The forest spans roughly 11 square miles and contains more than 2.5 miles of streams, including Raccoon Creek, a high priority waterway in the Etowah River basin that is nationally recognized for its water quality. The land also includes more than 900 acres of montane longleaf pine, one of the few remnants of this ecosystem remaining in the country.

A National Trend in Favor of Conservation
Paulding Forest was one of a many conservation projects supported by voters across the county this November. According to research by the Trust for Public Land, voters approved 77 percent of the tax or bond initiatives on the ballot in 23 states, including Georgia. These election results will provide local and state leaders with $5.73 billion for land conservation.

For more information about Paulding Forest, contact The Nature Conservancy at (404) 873-6946.