Over 1000 Acres Protected Throughout County
Maryland landowner and businessman Paul Facchina has signed his fifth conservation easement to the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) on 222 acres of land in St. Mary’s County. He is just the fourth individual in the Trust’s 30-year history to permanently preserve over 1,000 acres of land -- and the first to do so since 1986.
Facchina, owner of Facchina Construction Company, Inc., donated his first of four easements in Charles County in 1996. These easements have protected his 400-acre farm, Mt. Air. Last year Facchina donated an easement on 327 acres in the Gunston area. This spring, the Facchina Family granted an easement on 233 acres on the Nanjemoy River known as Audubon Woods. This latest easement is Facchina’s first in St. Mary’s County and is highly significant because it protects headwater streams to St. Mary’s River and provides habitat for Forest Interior Dwelling birds. With this latest easement, Facchina’s total is 1,180 acres under easement. Facchina Construction’s Treasurer, Charles McPherson, coordinated the easements with Paul Facchina and MET.
“Paul Facchina is an absolute champion for land preservation,” said MET Director John Bernstein. “His devotion and steadfast determination for preserving the integrity of Maryland’s landscape is inspiring.”
“Protecting the integrity of the environment continues to be a very important personal goal for me,” Facchina said. “It’s satisfying to know that the Hilton Run easement will provide forested habitat for migratory birds and secure significant headwater streams to St. Mary’s River and will forever contribute to the water quality of the river and the Chesapeake Bay.”
St. Mary’s River watershed is considered to be one of the most pristine watersheds on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay. Forest lands still cover approximately 64 percent of the watershed. In addition, as the site of the first English settlement and capital of Maryland, it has an historic legacy, as well as that of an important commercial and recreational river.
Donating conservation easements allows landowners to protect their properties permanently without giving up ownership. Gifts of conservation easements are charitable donations and their appraised value is tax deductible.
To date, MET has helped landowners protect over 85,000 acres of land with more than 650 conservation easements. For further information, visit the MET Web site at www.dnr.state.md.us/met or contact MET toll-free at 877-514-7900.
Posted: 1-15-2003
