North Florida Land Trust has received a donation of two acres in Nassau County from the Eloise Bailey-Thompson Trust that will increase the nonprofit land conservation organization’s holdings in the area. The land is adjacent to the 160-acre Basala-Chico conservation easement that NFLT holds along the St. Mary’s River near the Florida-Georgia state line which was previously donated by the Bailey-Thompson family.
“It is now or never for land conservation, and we greatly appreciate the Bailey-Thompson family for their generous donation and for realizing the importance of protecting this land,” said Allison DeFoor, interim president of NFLT. “Not only did they donate the property, they also covered all the transaction costs and donated funds to help us with the long-term management of this new addition and the existing conservation easement. These lands provide so many environmental benefits including protecting the watershed that benefits everyone along the St. Mary’s River Basin.”
The two-acre Bussell Tract will be added to the Basala-Chico conservation easement which contains about five thousand feet of frontage on the St. Mary’s River. The mostly unspoiled blackwater river forms a boundary between Florida and Georgia. The conservation easement contains important ecological features including a large floodplain lake. It also is an excellent example of a mesic slope forest community which is a habitat for several plant species of special concern.
Both properties provide ecosystem benefits to the area. It protects an oxbow lake that was formed when a bend in the river was cut off and isolated in addition to protecting the watershed in the St. Mary’s River Basin.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations.
