February 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jim Graham (603) 224-9945
Kelly Whalen, (603) 431-0816
Eugene Young and Carolyn Rollins Give Gift to Future Generations
.ALTON – Alton residents Eugene Young and Carolyn Rollins have donated a 130-acre conservation easement to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
A lifelong resident of the region, Young purchased the property in 1997 with the intent of conserving the land. A conservation easement allows private landowners to protect land while maintaining ownership. Easements provide permanent protection from land use that could damage or destroy its scenic, recreational, ecological and natural resource values.
“We have worked hard to protect the forest, plants, and wildlife on the property,” said Young, who finalized the easement details in December. “We want our own grandchildren, as well as future generations, to grow up with an appreciation for how important it is to conserve New Hampshire’s undeveloped land.”
Paul Doscher, vice president for land conservation for the Forest Society said, “The land has a remarkable diversity of natural communities. The property has a diverse mix of hard and softwoods, with white pine, hemlock, and red oak dominant, but with significant beech, hickory and birch species as well.”
Wildlife species include thriving populations of deer, moose and bear. The open fields in the property’s eastern portion are terraced into three distinct compartments that follow the terrain contours, separated by windrows. The result is a diverse habitat that supports both edge- and open-field species, including bobolinks and meadowlarks. There is also a beaver pond on the property that hosts a blue heron nesting site.
“The conservation easement is truly a gift for Alton residents and the State of New Hampshire,” added Doscher.
A 200 year old home sits on the property and is excluded from the easement. Historians believe it was the first farm settled in Alton. Other protected land in the area includes Blue Job Mountain and the Grau Lands in Barnstead.
Founded in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is a 10,000-member, nonprofit organization that has helped protect more than one million acres across New Hampshire. Visit www.forestsociety.org for more information, or call (603) 224-9945.
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