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211 acres of Randolph County forest now permanently protected

A bobcat watches from the edge of a forest
Robert F. Bukaty
/
AP

A large stretch of forestland in Randolph County is now off limits to development after a collaboration between a local couple and a nonprofit.

The 211-acre property in the Asheboro area features mature hardwood forest, streams and wildlife, including bobcats and migratory songbirds, according to Three Rivers Land Trust. The Salisbury-based organization worked with property owners Gene and Pat Holder to conserve the area.

In a statement announcing the deal, the nonprofit said preserving the forest will help keep the Yadkin River basin’s waterways cleaner and more stable.

The conservation easement means the land will remain protected from development in perpetuity, even if ownership changes.

April Laissle is a senior reporter and editor at WFDD. Her work has been featured on several national news programs and recognized by the Public Media Journalists Association and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Before joining WFDD in 2019, she worked at public radio stations in Ohio and California.