The Nature Conservancy in Maryland Acquires 97 Acres Near Potomac State Forest

The Maryland and DC chapter of The Nature Conservancy announced today that it has acquired 97 acres across two adjoining parcels of land near Swanton and Potomac State Forest in in Garrett County Maryland. The properties were purchased from the Savage River Land Co LLC and LVP Capital LLC.

Following the creation of a forest management plan, The Nature Conservancy will work to transform the forests to a more natural state through restoration practices. Currently much of the property is a planted red pine plantation, which will eventually be transitioned to mixed hardwood forest more typical of the region. In addition to providing greater biodiversity, the restored forest will provide improved wildlife habitat and be more resilient to climate change and other threats. The Nature Conservancy will also explore potential public use of the land.

“The forests in our region face a lot of threats such as biodiversity loss, invasive plants, insect pests, droughts and other climate-related stress.” said Donnelle Keech, Resilient Forests Program Director for the Maryland chapter of The Nature Conservancy.  “We are excited to improve the health and wildlife habitat on this property through restoration practices, which will also help better protect it from future threats.”

This purchase marks TNC’s first land acquisition in Western Maryland in 15 years and is part of a larger ongoing effort to improve forest health in the region both through protection efforts and working directly with the region’s many private and public landowners.  The Appalachian Mountain range—stretching from Canada to Alabama—is globally recognized as a critical landscape for biodiversity, climate adaptation and carbon sequestration, and is one of several landscapes designated by The Nature Conservancy as a priority for conservation and investment.