Temple-Inland Donates Conservation Easement in the Coosa Valley Prairie to The Nature Conservancy

Atlanta, GA — February 10, 2003 — Temple-Inland announced today the donation of a 929-acre conservation easement in Georgia's Coosa Valley Prairie to The Nature Conservancy, a leading international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation.

Purple cone flowers
© TNC

The site, located in Floyd County, Ga., is one of the most biologically significant portions of the Coosa Valley Prairie, which occurs in the Cumberlands and Southern Ridge Valley ecoregions in Floyd County, Ga., and Cherokee County, Ala.

Referred to as "the most significant locality for biodiversity in Georgia" by Georgia Department of Natural Resources biologist Jim Alison, the 929-acre Temple Inland tract is habitat for 41 rare plant and animal species and natural communities. Rare species include the whorled sunflower (Helianthus verticillatus), which until 1994 had not been sighted in more than 100 years, and Mohr's Barbara-button (Marhallia mohrii), which is federally listed as threatened.

"Recognizing the site's significant biological diversity, including a number or rare species, we wanted to tailor our management approach to conserve and enhance the unique ecology of the site," said Temple-Inland Forest Vice President Jim DeCosmo. "It is consistent with our forestry principles to be environmentally and socially responsible while managing our forest in a sustainable and financially successful manner."

"In the Coosa Valley Prairie, Temple-Inland has taken a pro-active approach to protecting an important natural area in Georgia," said Nature Conservancy Southeast Division Director Bob Bendick. "We applaud Temple-Inland for its commitment and foresight to preserving this natural area for generations to come."

Black-eyed susans
© TNC

The donation of the easement will enable Temple-Inland and The Nature Conservancy to ensure the permanent conservation of the site through critical management activities such as prescribed burning and selective harvesting. Development of the property will be prohibited.

Conservation easements are a critical tool that The Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups use when working with landowners to protect high-priority habitat. A legally binding agreement, a conservation easement enables the property owner to retain ownership rights while following a management plan to conserve high-quality ecological sites, such as the Temple-Inland property in Floyd County.

"The donation of this conservation easement is a major step forward in protecting the Coosa Valley Prairie," said Tavia McCuean, vice president and Georgia state director for The Nature Conservancy. "The Nature Conservancy and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have worked with Temple-Inland in one form or another to protect this property for the past eight years."

The Coosa Valley Prairie has been identified as a conservation priority by The Nature Conservancy. Among the rare species and natural communities found on Temple-Inland's property are thorne's beaksedge (Rhynchospora thornei); Cumberland rose gentian (Sabatia capitata); spreading yellow foxglove (Aureolaria patula), rattlesnake-root (Prenanthes barbata); mock bishop-weed (Ptilimnium costatum); and great plains ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum).

The Georgia Land Trust Service Center, a non-profit organization based in Athens, Ga., is donating $129,750 from the Georgia Wetlands Trust Fund for management of the property. An additional $25,000 has been funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is being administered by the Georgia DNR.

"We are grateful that our funders support our work and have monies available to help manage the property, which has been identified by our science and conservation staff as one of The Nature Conservancy's priority conservation sites in the state of Georgia," said Ms. McCuean.

Coosa Valley Prairie Conservation Easement Part of Larger Partnership

Temple-Inland's decision to donate the conservation easement to The Nature Conservancy followed a landmark cooperative agreement between the two entities in Summer 2002 to identify, protect and manage sites of unique conservation value on Temple-Inland forestlands in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia.

The agreement was one of the first in the nation to establish a framework for accomplishing mutually beneficial conservation goals consistent with Temple-Inland's Forestry Principles and The Nature Conservancy's Conservation by Design program.

Among the highlights of the agreement's proposed activities are the development of an ecological land classification system and biological inventories to identify and assess ecologically significant sites.

Additionally, the agreement outlines the establishment of monitoring programs for managing ecologically sensitive species and communities, and provides for mutual assistance in conducting restoration and management activities at ecologically sensitive sites.

Temple-Inland's Conservation Forest Group, formed to identify and manage lands of high conservation values, is working closely with The Nature Conservancy in carrying out the terms of the agreement.

"Agreements like this one help further the company's legacy of stewardship and strengthen the important partnership Temple-Inland has with the Conservancy," said DeCosmo. "This is another opportunity for both entities to share knowledge and expertise that will advance our pursuit of continuous environmental improvement."

The company's relationship with The Nature Conservancy dates back to 1977 when Temple-Inland donated 2,138 acres for the establishment of the Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary in Hardin County, Texas. In 1994, additional lands were donated to the sanctuary through a gift that transferred ownership of more than 380 acres to the Conservancy and provided a conservation easement on approximately 2,800 acres of adjacent Temple-Inland land.