 |
Christmas Tree Farm Protected at Christmas Time
December 4, 2003
CONTACT: Mark Rasmussen, Executive Director The Coalition for Buzzards Bay 508-999-6363, ext. 201
ACUSHNET, MA—The holiday season is upon us. While many people will spend hours at the mall and in stores searching for the perfect gift to buy, Keith Santos of Keith’s Tree Farm only had to look to his farm for the perfect gift. Keith’s gift is the protection of his tree farm for decades to come. Keith volunteered to sell the development rights to his tree farm – ensuring that it will be protected from development. By conserving 168 acres of land, the entire region benefits. Not only can we be sure that Christmas trees will be available year after year, but a large piece of land will be saved from development. “I saw this opportunity as a win-win situation,” said Keith Santos. “I can continue doing what I love, providing families with Christmas trees for the holidays and conserving important watershed habitat for the entire community.” All 168 acres of Keith’s Tree Farm will be protected, as part of the New Bedford Harbor Land Trust. In order to help restore and replace important habitat along the Acushnet River and New Bedford Harbor from PCB contamination, land owners are given an incentive if they choose to commit their land to protection. Funding was provided from the New Bedford Harbor Trustees Council to the Fairhaven-Acushnet Land Preservation Trust. “Protecting Keith’s Tree Farm on the Acushnet River from development is a great Christmas gift to the region. Riverfront land conservation is the best way to protect water quality. We’re all very grateful to Keith and Sue Santos for their vision,” said Mark Rasmussen, Executive Director of the Coalition for Buzzards Bay, which assisted the Fairhaven-Acushnet Land Preservation Trust in putting together the conservation deal. On Friday, December 5th at 9:00am, Keith Santos will receive a check from the Trustees at his Tree Farm. Photo and video opportunities will be available. —###—
|
