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The Nature Conservancy in Mississippi Mississippi Home About the Chapter Contact Us Places We Protect Ways of Giving Mitigation Banking Field Trips Volunteer Chapter News Press Releases |
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Newest Preserve Home to Rare Species
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Scarlet Basil
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In September 2006 The Nature Conservancy dedicated the Harvell and Pellerree Jackson Sandhills Preserve in George County, Mississippi. This 108-acre preserve was donated through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. James Kirkpatrick. The new preserve is located just outside Lucedale, Mississippi, adjacent to the Palestine Gardens replica of the Holy Land that was created by Mrs. Kirkpatrick’s parents, Reverend Harvell and Pellerree Jackson, in 1960.
The preserve lies within the East Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregion and provides habitat for several rare and threatened plants and animals, including beach rosemary, scarlet basil, woody goldenrod, gopher tortoise, black pinesnake and glass lizard. A pitcher plant bog is also found on the preserve.
The property is in relatively pristine condition. The Conservancy will conduct a species inventory that will include recording gopher tortoise burrows and identifying any endangered plants. The site is one of 50 sites participating in the Cactus Moth Early Detection and Reporting Network coordinated by the U.S. Geographical Service and Mississippi State University. Cactus moth is an invasive non-native species that threatens all 63 species of prickly pear cactus in the United States. Participating sites provide the opportunity to detect spread of the cactus moth early so that prompt eradication efforts can be implemented. The University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science have expressed an interest in conducting research at the site. The preserve also provides a great opportunity for volunteer activities.
Mississippi State Director Robbie Fisher expressed her gratitude at the dedication ceremony saying, “This is a wonderful addition to our portfolio of great places in Mississippi. The Jackson family has been a part of George County for many years, and we are very grateful to their daughter’s family for choosing to donate such a uniquely biodiverse piece of land to The Nature Conservancy.”
For more information on the Harvell and Pellerree Jackson Sandhills Preserve, please contact Rebecca Stowe, Director of Stewardship.
The Nature Conservancy
Mississippi Stewardship Program
138 Main Street Merrill
Lucedale, MS 39452
(601) 947-3111
