Last Tuesday Aug. 4, the Lee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the purchase of 15 acres of land on Pine Island, contiguous to the Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve, as part of the Conservation 2020 Land Acquisition Program.

The cost of the parcels, consisting of pine flatwoods and mangrove forests, totaled $52,500 and holds a rank of 42 out of a possible 100 on the county rating scale for possible 202 properties, according to Lee County Parks and Recreation Director Jesse Lavender, who contends the rank is favorable.

“I’m happy to see that during this time we still haven’t forgotten about our goals of preserving land and taking care of the environment,” Commissioner Chairman Brian Hamman said regarding the land purchases.

Another 201 acres, contiguous to the Imperial Marsh Preserve in eastern Lee County, consisting of wetlands and various bird species, was then approved for acquisition at $1.3 million.

“I love that we’re able to add 200 acres to an existing Conservation 2020 preserve. The area is south of State Road 82,” Hamman said. “That’s a road that’s going to be widened by the statethat can bring new growth and new development to the area.

“One of the ways we’re balancing the economic prosperity that we’re seeing here in Lee County and the economic growth that we’re seeing with the environment is we’re continuing to look for great opportunities to preserve land in those areas and this is one of the ways we’re continuing that and keeping the 2020 program alive,” said Hamman.

Conservation 20/20, which has preserved 30,225 acres since its inception, is Lee County’s environmental acquisition and management program. Conservation lands help the county protect drinking water, enhance water quality, provide nature-based recreational opportunities, protect areas from flooding and provide wildlife habitat.

Please visit www.Conservation2020.org for additional information about the program,