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The Nature Conservancy Lauds Town of Brookhaven for Laying Foundation Block for Success of Long Island’s Last Stand

Steps toward Community Preservation Fund are Made; Voters will Decide on Election Day

East Hampton, NY — May 4, 2007 — The announcement of the Community Preservation Fund initiative today in Brookhaven lays the significant foundation block for the success of Long Island’s Last Stand, a Nature Conservancy-led effort to protect the most important remaining 25,000 acres of open space and 10,000 acres of farmland on Long Island.

The Town of Brookhaven contains nearly 1/3 of land that needs to be protected pursuant to this initiative, including some of Long Island’s most important natural treasures, such as the Pine Barrens and the Great South Bay.

The anticipated revenue generated from the Community Preservation Fund will be $600 million over the life of the program, and will protect about 5,000 acres of land in Brookhaven – which is roughly half of the acreage outlined for Brookhaven in Long Island’s Last Stand.

“This is a big deal for Brookhaven and for Long Island,” said Kevin McDonald, Director of Public Lands for The Nature Conservancy on Long Island. “We applaud Supervisor Foley and town officials for their hard work towards this significant milestone. 100 years from now, residents will thank those that came together for this agreement to protect water quality, restore bays and harbors, and afford recreational and scenic value to the Town. Now it is up to voters to see that it passes on Election Day.”

"Members of the committee that drafted this CPF proposal covered all the stake holders--civic leaders including ABCO members, environmental leaders including the Nature Conservancy and the League of Conservation Voters, business leaders including members of the Long Island Builders Institute, the Long Island Association and many others. I am proud to say that we reached a consensus on a CPF proposal that satisfies all those diverse interests," said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley.

"Today's announcement embodies the principle that preserving our open lands, growing our economy and enhancing our communities are inextricably linked in Brookhaven and throughout Long Island," said Michael J. Deering, Vice President of the Long Island Association. "Through the votes that the Town Board and the public will make this year, we are taking the next critical steps to protect our environment and strengthen our region's economic well being."

As announced today, this initiative will be placed before voters on the ballot on Election Day and voters will have the opportunity to ensure its passage.

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.

Long Island’s Last Stand is a 10-year action plan to save Long Island’s most significant remaining open spaces and farmland and to restore and protect our harbors, bays, and public parkland. Long Island’s Last Stand is supported by a coalition of concerned citizens, farmers, business leaders and conservation groups who are taking a stand to protect remaining natural areas and to restore Long Island’s lands, waters and way of life. Visit nature.org/longisland for more information.