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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401. 222. 4700 | www. dem. ri. gov | @RhodeIslandDEM CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEM. communications@ dem. ri. gov Monday, December 2, 2024 942 ACRES</div>
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<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",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:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:DEM.communications@dem.ri.gov"><span lang="DE" style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM.communications@dem.ri.gov</span></a>
<span lang="DE" style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> Monday, December 2, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">942 ACRES OF FORESTLAND</span></b>
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">IN BURRILVILLE CONSERVED WITH $1.2M FROM US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:170.25pt;margin-top:.75pt;width:339pt;height:233.5pt;z-index:-251655168;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:absolute;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:image003.jpg@01DB44B6.D1934D70" o:title="" />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="452" height="311" style="width:4.7083in;height:3.2395in" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DB44BF.AFA01D70" align="left" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE,
RI –<span style="color:black"> The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announces the conservation of 942.11 acres of forested land in Burrillville for public recreational use, including hunting – the largest single acquisition by
DEM since 2014 and one of the last large undeveloped parcels remaining in the state. DEM received a $1.2M grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) through
</span></span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.fws.gov/program/wildlife-restoration__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH4w1rLzQz$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Wildlife Restoration Program</span> [fws.gov]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> and
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.nfwf.org/media-center/press-releases/walmart-and-national-fish-and-wildlife-foundation-announce-10-year__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH4yRDBr4A$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">$301,250 award</span> [nfwf.org]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
from the </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.nfwf.org/__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH49u1O4-Q$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">National Fish and Wildlife Foundation</span> [nfwf.org]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> (NFWF) through Walmart’s
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.nfwf.org/programs/acres-america-program__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH431wOEUG$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Acres for America Program</span> [nfwf.org]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> to complete the purchase
of the </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.narragansettbsa.org/__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH4-MTakJg$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Rhode Island Boy Scouts</span> [narragansettbsa.org]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">’ Buck Hill property.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The conservation of this unusually large property for Rhode Island provides critical connectivity between the over 4,000-acre George Washington Management Area and
</span><a href="https://riparks.ri.gov/parks/pulaski-state-park"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Pulaski State Park</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> to the south, the 2,220-acre Buck
Hill Management Area to the north, as well as a large tract of conservation land in Connecticut to the west, and the Douglas State Forest to the north in Massachusetts, resulting in a total contiguous protected area of over 13,000 acres. The conservation of
a parcel this size is a rare opportunity in Rhode Island and is supported by several state plans, including the
</span><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/fish-wildlife/conservation-research/ri-state-wildlife-action-plan"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">RI Wildlife Action Plan</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
and </span><a href="https://planning.ri.gov/state-guide-plan"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">State Guide Plan</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">. The Boy Scouts will retain approximately
200 acres of land on the northern side of Wakefield Pond for continued scout use as a weekend camp. The conservation of the Scouts’ property significantly increases the acreage of protected forestland in RI, consisting of high-quality forested upland, mostly
oak and maple, and an important cedar swamp. The property will be incorporated into Buck Hill Management Area and will be managed by DEM’s
</span><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/fish-wildlife"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Division of Fish & Wildlife</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> for outdoor
recreation, including hunting and fishing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">“Conserving such a large parcel of connected forestland is a huge win for preserving Rhode Island’s natural resources and increasing public access to the outdoors,” said DEM
Director Terry Gray. “I led campouts at this property when I was a Scout leader, so I’m deeply grateful that DEM’s partnership with the Boy Scouts, NFWF, and USFWS have preserved this land for the public, thanks to the funding support of Rhode Island hunters
and target shooters, whose firearms and ammunition purchased in the state are taxed expressly for the purpose of funding conservation projects like this.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">“Rhode Island Boy Scouts look forward to protecting this natural treasure so that it can be enjoyed by future generations,” said Tim McCandless, a representative of the RI
Boy Scouts. “We are pleased to collaborate with DEM to safeguard this land for the public.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:213.85pt;margin-top:.5pt;width:265.05pt;height:327.45pt;z-index:-251654144;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'>
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site will be open to the public but 140 acres of the property on Buck Hill Road will be temporarily closed to public access for site improvements, as shown on the enclosed map. The remainder of the property can be accessed from George Washington Management
Area.</span> <span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The $1,610,000 purchase price for the property will be funded through $1,207,500 from the USFWS Wildlife Restoration Program and through the $301,250 NFWF grant, with a $101,250
match from State Bond funds. The USFWS Wildlife Restoration Program, also known as the
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.fws.gov/program/wildlife-and-sport-fish-restoration*:*7E:text=The*20Wildlife*20and*20Sport*20Fish,recreational*20opportunities*20for*20fishing*2C*20hunting*2C__;IyUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH429Y8gI7$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Pittman-Robertson
Restoration Program</span> [fws.gov]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">, is a user-pay, user-benefit program that is derived from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, and is apportioned to states to support wildlife
restoration and conservation programs. The acquisition of the Scouts’ Buck Hill property exemplifies the success of this program in creating additional recreational opportunities for the public and conserving critical habitat.</span>
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM’s
</span><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/planning-development/land-conservation"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Land Conservation Program</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
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. 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. Since 1985, over 20,000 acres of land have been protected.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. Follow
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH47bTW4BG$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM on Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem)
for timely updates. </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/JKHsVOn/medialist__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!NrU49ds-02ZTIUHD9LFwqzZynmTM-6alNeyLJ_3bxfpTRYaKVFs2pC54-GpELKYhLdKvZxXJPi9Q0wxV1bF1zqXrSEpH43wHB2i0$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Sign up here</span> [lp.constantcontactpages.com]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> to receive the latest
press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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