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The Nature Conservancy assists State of Maryland with Protection of Important Eastern Shore Dunes, Forests

Voluntary easement safeguards 757 acres of Wicomico County forests

WICOMICO COUNTY, MD — November 21, 2007 — The Nature Conservancy assisted the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with acquisition of a conservation easement on an extensive tract of 757-acres of forest in the Nanticoke Greenway in Wicomico County.

“Ancient sand dunes, a nice forest canopy for weary migrating warblers, and miles of Nanticoke tributaries weaving through acres and acres of high quality wetlands will continue to be great habitat for a lot of plants, fish and wildlife,” said Liz Zucker, The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern Shore conservation director.

A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement that limits certain development on a piece of property now and in the future, while protecting the property’s ecological or agricultural values.

“This conservation easement permanently protects valuable forests and riparian buffers along the Nanticoke River and Rewastico Creek that has exceptional environmental value,” said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin. “Protection of this land helps Maryland meet our commitments in the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement.”

The Hurley Neck Sand Dunes property contains an ancient sand dune complex, high quality native hardwood forest with several rare plants as well as a valuable tidal wetland system. The easement allows agriculture and sustainable timber harvest on the property. The easement was purchased with Program Open Space funds approved by the Board of Public Works. Since its creation in 1969, Program Open Space has helped fund the conservation of more than 278,000 acres across Maryland.

Globally rare plants thrive on the dunes, many of which have been lost to development or sand and gravel operations. The Conservancy negotiated a deal with the landowner, and now the dunes will come under state protection through a conservation easement.

Owners Robert Bartoshesky and William D'Alonzo stated: “We appreciate working with the State and the Conservancy to assure protection of the land for the enjoyment of its natural resources and open landscape for many generations to come.”

The Nanticoke Greenway extends from the Delaware State line just north of Galestown to the mouth of the Nanticoke River at Tangier Sound and the Chesapeake Bay. A resource based greenway, the Nanticoke Greenway features extensive tidal marshland surrounding Tangier Sound and Fishing Bay, outstanding waterfowl and wildlife habitat, wetlands of State concern, numerous rare plant sites, and significant forest resources along the Marshyhope Creek. These areas provide some of the nation's finest public duck hunting.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.