Georgia Protects 20,000 Forested Acres at Three Sites

Governor Sonny Perdue travelled to Corley Lake in Paulding County on Wednesday to announce the conservation initiative.

"On the opposite shore of this lake, you see a rolling hillside with a beautiful stand of timber on it," the governor said. "Today I am proud to announce that due to the hard work and investment of many partners, we can guarantee views like this will be protected for generations to come."

The lands approved for protection through the Georgia Land Conservation Program include properties in Paulding County at Paulding Forest, in Decatur County bordering Lake Seminole, and in McIntosh County along the Altamaha River.

The three tracts of land will be managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, DNR, as wildlife management areas and will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation as well as the long-term conservation of important wildlife habitats.

Forested land in Paulding County, Georgia (Photo by Vickie Rans)

The acquisitions represent an investment of $34.7 million in state funds, combined with $58.2 million from federal, local and private partners. Two of these three properties account for $30 million of the $42 million set aside as part of the FY2008 budget for the Georgia Land Conservation Program.

Joining Governor Perdue at Corley Lake, was Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Glenn Richardson.

"I'd like to thank the governor and all of those involved in this process for their efforts in creating a partnership between the state and the county so that we could preserve this valuable natural resource for hunters, families, outdoor enthusiasts, and future generations to enjoy," said Richardson, who represents the county in the General Assembly.

At the lake, Paulding County Commission Chairman Jerry Shearin hailed the county voters who in November 2006 approved $15 million to match the state funding toward the purchase of Paulding Forest. The bond referendum passed with 72 percent of the vote.

"The citizens of Paulding County voted overwhelmingly to tax themselves to protect this valuable natural resource," said Shearin.

The Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area protects a tributary of the Etowah River as well as the remnants of a rare montane longleaf pine forest. It is used by hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts and protects forest lands along the Silver Comet Trail.

The Nature Conservancy will purchase and hold 320 acres of the property slated for acquisition by the state until additional federal funding is appropriated. It will then sell this acreage to DNR.

The Silver Lake Tract at Lake Seminole Wildlife Management Area includes 8,430 acres in Decatur County on Lake Seminole near Bainbridge. This property has been managed by International Paper as a research forest and contains extensive stands of mature longleaf pine with a population of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

Georgia is working in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps through the U.S. Navy to protect 4,162 acres as part of the Fort Barrington Tract at Townsend Wildlife Management Area.

This acquisition will not only protect critical wildlife habitat and provide recreational opportunities on the Altamaha River, but will also help provide additional buffer lands around the Townsend Bombing Range.

This tract will add to a corridor of conservation lands along the Altamaha River that connect the Townsend Wildlife Management Area and the Altamaha Wildlife Management Area. The entire corridor will consist of more than 46,000 adjoining acres.

Conservation lands are permanently protected lands that are undeveloped and meet one or more of the goals of the Georgia Land Conservation Act. The goals include water quality protection, flood protection, wetlands protection, reduction of erosion, protection of riparian buffers and areas that provide natural habitat and corridors for native plant and animal species.

The goals also include the protection of prime agricultural and forestry lands, protection of cultural and historic sites, scenic protection, boating, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting, and the connection of areas contributing to these goals.

Governor Perdue introduced the Georgia Land Conservation Act to encourage the long-term conservation and protection of the state's natural, cultural and historic resources in the 2004 session of the General Assembly. The Georgia Land Conservation Act passed with broad bipartisan support and the governor signed it into law on April 14, 2005.

Applications for land conservation grants or loans are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications and more information about the program can be found at: www.glcp.org.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.