 The
Alabama Wildlife Federation, Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust
(AFWLT), and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources worked together to purchase some of the most crucially
important conservation lands in our state and in the nation
- 50,000 acres in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta - in July
of 1999.
AWF's Officers, Board of Directors, and Staff worked diligently
to make arrangements and take measures necessary for AWF
to purchase 12,000 of the 50,000 acres known as the Clearwater
Tract on behalf of the Forever Wild Land Trust.
When combined with the roughly 50,000 acres contained in
the existing Mobile-Tensaw Delta and W.L. Holland Wildlife
Management Areas, this collection of lands, stretching from
the Causeway in Mobile north for over 40 miles, provides
approximately 100,000 contiguous acres available for public
use, recreation, and enjoyment, as well as providing critical
protection to the crown jewel of Alabama's conservation
lands.
Through the dedication and tenacity of our Officers, Board
of Directors, supporters, and our partners with the AFWLT
and ADCNR, this effort provides yet another contribution
to Alabama's rich outdoor heritage.
To commemorate this historic
event, the AWF published a special issue of our Alabama
Wildlife magazine devoted entirely to this effort and the
natural resource values of the Delta:
FOREVER WILD LAND TRUST
The Forever Wild Land Trust was created to purchase and
manage unique lands within Alabama, thereby securing property
for public use, that would be maintained as "forever
wild." Funding for the program is derived from a percentage
of the interest earned from state royalties on offshore
natural gas leases belonging to Alabama. Land purchases
by Forever Wild target four principle designations that
secure property for the most common groups of outdoor interests:
nature preserves, recreation areas, state parks, and wildlife
management areas.
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