<!-- BaNnErBlUrFlE-BoDy-start -->
<!-- Preheader Text : BEGIN -->
<div style="display:none !important;display:none;visibility:hidden;mso-hide:all;font-size:1px;color:#ffffff;line-height:1px;height:0px;max-height:0px;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;">
 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.&#8202;222.&#8202;4700 | www.&#8202;dem.&#8202;ri.&#8202;gov | @RhodeIslandDEM CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mike Healey, 401-258-0787 Monday, May 22, 2023 Michael.&#8202;Healey@&#8202;dem.&#8202;ri.&#8202;gov
</div>
<!-- Preheader Text : END -->

<!-- Email Banner : BEGIN -->
<div style="display:none !important;display:none;visibility:hidden;mso-hide:all;font-size:1px;color:#ffffff;line-height:1px;height:0px;max-height:0px;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;">ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart</div>

<!--[if ((ie)|(mso))]>
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="padding: 16px 0px 16px 0px; direction: ltr" ><tr><td>
    <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="padding: 0px 10px 5px 6px; width: 100%; border-radius:4px; border-top:4px solid #90a4ae;background-color:#D0D8DC;"><tr><td valign="top">
      <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="padding: 4px 8px 4px 8px">
        <tr><td style="color:#000000; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px; direction: ltr">
          This Message Is From an External Sender
        </td></tr>
        <tr><td style="color:#000000; font-weight:normal; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size:12px; direction: ltr">
          This message came from outside your organization.
        </td></tr>

      </table>
      <![if ie]><br clear="all"><![endif]>
      <table align="right" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="padding: 4px 0px 4px 0px"><tr>
        <td style="direction: ltr">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us-phishalarm-ewt.proofpoint.com/EWT/v1/KKphUJtCzQ!QaGMVaynFAsvanh60UsE1Llqq_VJyZYilMp_4haR6Bk-0oddSHj5K4fz-e57AwN7hpMseh3bCSZdl4rYo5y_0HlEUBra_AqvK-sY-MwHsIJjJ5GP5ycEpi2WtBTlBXMmeUnPMLX6sVanx-P9Lrtq$" style="mso-padding-alt: 7.5px; padding: 7.5px; border-radius: 2px; border: 1.5px solid #666666; "><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: #000000; text-decoration: none; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height: 40px; ">&nbsp;&nbsp;Report&nbsp;Suspicious&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&zwnj; </td>
      </tr></table>
    </td></tr></table>
  </td></tr></table>
<![endif]-->

<![if !((ie)|(mso))]>
  <div dir="ltr"  id="pfptBannernv1pfyu" style="all: revert !important; display:block !important; text-align: left !important; margin:16px 0px 16px 0px !important; padding:8px 16px 8px 16px !important; border-radius: 4px !important; min-width: 200px !important; background-color: #D0D8DC !important; background-color: #D0D8DC; border-top: 4px solid #90a4ae !important; border-top: 4px solid #90a4ae;">
    <div id="pfptBannernv1pfyu" style="all: unset !important; float:left !important; display:block !important; margin: 0px 0px 1px 0px !important; max-width: 600px !important;">
      <div id="pfptBannernv1pfyu" style="all: unset !important; display:block !important; visibility: visible !important; background-color: #D0D8DC !important; color:#000000 !important; color:#000000; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif !important; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-weight:bold !important; font-weight:bold; font-size:14px !important; line-height:18px !important; line-height:18px">
        This Message Is From an External Sender
      </div>
      <div id="pfptBannernv1pfyu" style="all: unset !important; display:block !important; visibility: visible !important; background-color: #D0D8DC !important; color:#000000 !important; color:#000000; font-weight:normal; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif !important; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size:12px !important; line-height:18px !important; line-height:18px; margin-top:2px !important;">
This message came from outside your organization.
      </div>

    </div>
    <div id="pfptBannernv1pfyu" style="all: unset !important; float: right !important; display: block !important; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 0px 16px !important; text-align: right !important; width: fit-content !important;">
<a id="pfptBannernv1pfyu" href="https://us-phishalarm-ewt.proofpoint.com/EWT/v1/KKphUJtCzQ!QaGMVaynFAsvanh60UsE1Llqq_VJyZYilMp_4haR6Bk-0oddSHj5K4fz-e57AwN7hpMseh3bCSZdl4rYo5y_0HlEUBra_AqvK-sY-MwHsIJjJ5GP5ycEpi2WtBTlBXMmeUnPMLX6sVanx-P9Lrtq$"
    style="all: unset !important; display: inline-block !important; text-decoration: none">
    <div class="pfptPrimaryButtonnv1pfyu" style="display: inline-block !important; display: inline-block; visibility: visible !important; opacity: 1 !important; color: #000000 !important; color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif !important; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none !important; border-radius: 2px !important; padding: 7.5px 16px !important; margin: 3px 0 3px 16px !important; white-space: nowrap !important; width: fit-content !important;
        border: 1px solid #666666">
        Report&nbsp;Suspicious
    </div>
</a>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both !important; display: block !important; visibility: hidden !important; line-height: 0 !important; font-size: 0.01px !important; height: 0px">&nbsp;</div>
  </div>
<![endif]>

<div style="display:none !important;display:none;visibility:hidden;mso-hide:all;font-size:1px;color:#ffffff;line-height:1px;height:0px;max-height:0px;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;">ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd</div>
<!-- Email Banner : END -->

<!-- BaNnErBlUrFlE-BoDy-end -->
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head><!-- BaNnErBlUrFlE-HeAdEr-start -->
<style>
  #pfptBannernv1pfyu { all: revert !important; display: block !important; 
    visibility: visible !important; opacity: 1 !important; 
    background-color: #D0D8DC !important; 
    max-width: none !important; max-height: none !important }
  .pfptPrimaryButtonnv1pfyu:hover, .pfptPrimaryButtonnv1pfyu:focus {
    background-color: #b4c1c7 !important; }
  .pfptPrimaryButtonnv1pfyu:active {
    background-color: #90a4ae !important; }
</style>

<!-- BaNnErBlUrFlE-HeAdEr-end -->

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:"Cambria Math";
        panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Calibri;
        panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Calibri Light";
        panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Impact;
        panose-1:2 11 8 6 3 9 2 5 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoCaption, li.MsoCaption, div.MsoCaption
        {mso-style-priority:35;
        margin-top:0in;
        margin-right:0in;
        margin-bottom:10.0pt;
        margin-left:0in;
        font-size:9.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
        color:#44546A;
        font-style:italic;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#0563C1;
        text-decoration:underline;}
p.xxmsonormal, li.xxmsonormal, div.xxmsonormal
        {mso-style-name:x_xmsonormal;
        margin:0in;
        font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal, li.xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal, div.xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal
        {mso-style-name:x_xxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal;
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0in;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0in;
        font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xmsonormal, li.xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xmsonormal, div.xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xmsonormal
        {mso-style-name:x_xxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xmsonormal;
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0in;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0in;
        font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
        {page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="714" style="width:535.5pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="115" style="width:1.2in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D98CBA.60F51360" alt="DEM-logo-small"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="599" style="width:449.1pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Impact&quot;,sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">Mike Healey, 401-258-0787&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday, May 22, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Michael.Healey@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Michael.Healey@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">DEM ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF 61-ACRE PARCEL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">OF FORESTLAND NEAR BIG RIVER MANAGEMENT AREA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">PURCHASED WITH U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FUNDING<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A picture containing tree, grass, outdoor, fungus&#10;&#10;Description automatically generated" style='position:absolute;margin-left:236.8pt;margin-top:3.95pt;width:4in;height:4in;z-index:251661312;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image002.jpg@01D98CBA.60F51360" o:title="A picture containing tree, grass, outdoor, fungus&#10;&#10;Description automatically generated" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="384" height="384" style="width:4.0in;height:4.0in" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D98D55.97644DD0" align="right" hspace="12" alt="A picture containing tree, grass, outdoor, fungus

Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">PROVIDENCE,
 RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing that it has bought a 61-acre parcel of verdant forestland linking two of the state’s largest undeveloped areas south of I-95 with funding from the U.S.<span style="color:black">
 Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Wildlife Restoration Grant Program. DEM’s purchase of the Beaudreau property for $610,000 connects the
</span>8,375-acre<span style="color:black"> </span>Big River Management Area and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s 1,233-acre Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge spanning the towns of Exeter and West Greenwich. The three properties encompass nearly 10,000
 acres of contiguous protected lands, with the Beaudreau parcel acting as a wildlife corridor and providing further recreation opportunities for the public including hunting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoCaption" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Photo credits: Lauren Miller-Donnelly
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">“Forests perform many valuable ecological functions and are central to state efforts to preserving biodiversity and increasing resilience to climate change,” said DEM Director Terry Gray.
 “DEM is grateful for the support of Rhode Island and visiting hunters whose firearms and ammunition purchased in the state are taxed expressly for the purpose of funding the conservation of critical habitats like this.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.fws.gov/program/wildlife-restoration__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MxAdYutBCZbREwLbOfDSI3Wss8uNYDs1Ylu7QNf5cmVTh88jjvmRc7h2wu1hxZ8nlJ5nBwhbvhsPHiG57pbZhVeBv2utdv8dA51e$"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">USFWS’s Wildlife Restoration Grant Program, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act,</span> [fws.gov]</a><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:black">
 is a user-pay, user-benefit program investing dollars from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment to support wildlife restoration and conservation programs. The acquisition of the Beaudreau property typifies
</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Map&#10;&#10;Description automatically generated" style='position:absolute;margin-left:219.55pt;margin-top:4.5pt;width:270.75pt;height:5in;z-index:251660288;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image004.png@01D98CBA.60F51360" o:title="Map&#10;&#10;Description automatically generated" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="361" height="480" style="width:3.7604in;height:5.0in" src="cid:image005.png@01D98D55.97644DD0" align="right" hspace="12" alt="Map

Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:black">the
 success of this program in creating additional recreational opportunities for the public and conserving critical habitat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">The </span>
<a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/planning-development/land-conservation"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">State Land Conservation Program</span></a><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">
</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">purchases ecologically valuable land to enhance DEM’s management areas, parks, and forest lands. Funding for these acquisitions is made possible by State Open Space Bonds, with contributions from municipalities,
 land trusts, and from various federal programs. The program works to acquire land to add to DEM’s conservation holdings – to protect state forests and open spaces for public recreational use and habitat conservation.
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">Rhode Island’s wealth of historic parks, bikeways, and green spaces provide for public enjoyment, along with improving the health of the environment, strengthening climate resilience, and
 supporting the economy. </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">Since 1985, over 20,000 acres of land have been protected. In fiscal year 2022, DEM protected 575 acres of open space and farmland while leveraging $6.4 million from federal
 and local partners. The Beaudreau acquisition continues this progress and secures an additional 61.5 acres for Rhode Islanders with 100% federal funding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and services, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">. Follow DEM on
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MxAdYutBCZbREwLbOfDSI3Wss8uNYDs1Ylu7QNf5cmVTh88jjvmRc7h2wu1hxZ8nlJ5nBwhbvhsPHiG57pbZhVeBv2utdk9vyFaW$"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a><u><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">,</span></u><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">
 Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@RhodeIsland.DEM).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in">
<b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Michael J. Healey | Chief Public Affairs Officer</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in">
<b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#212121">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in">
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#212121">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in">
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#212121">401-222-4700, X277-7273</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in">
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#212121">Email:&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:michael.healey@dem.ri.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">michael.healey@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxydpe3ecabc6yiv8679005185ydp7f4f0b45yiv2173515244xmsonormal" style="margin:0in">
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#212121">Web: </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.dem.gov__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!JTan8GFpr31dz0axLZC-y-wGNcw1msmDMbDiMRiDsdSguslA8VuLG4ZstXozPoLcLmecg9NNx54sgvHaiJ8xNg$" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.gov
 [dem.gov]</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxmsonormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>