RI acquires land for wilderness preservation
BURRILLVILLE, R.I.—The state of Rhode Island has purchased 189 acres of land that officials say is critical to conserving wilderness and animal habitat.
The Department of Environmental Management announced the purchase of the parcel in the state's northwest corner on Monday.
The state acquired the land from the Boy Scouts. The parcel is adjacent to more than 7,000 acres of existing conservation areas, making it a key addition to the state conservation efforts.
DEM Director Janet Coit says the land is particularly valuable to wildlife because it sits within one of the largest undisturbed areas in the state.
The land was purchased for $900,000. The Nature Conservancy and the Champlin Foundations provided a $450,000 grant for the acquisition. The state contributed $83,000 and the federal government provided $367,000.
