Forever Albemarle exhibit opens to celebrate rural conservation

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of the photo exhibit with the remarks by Albemarle County Farmer Jimmy Powell

On July 27, 2007, a photo exhibit entitled ‘

Forever Albemarle

‘ opened in the County Office building outside Lane Auditorium. The exhibit celebrates Albemarle’s growing inventory of rural land protected from future development by voluntary conservation easements. All three hundred and fifty easement holders were invited to be honored for their contributions.

Members of the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission also welcomed Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources,

Preston Bryant

.

Bryant told the audience that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has made land conservation a centerpiece of his agenda and had set a goal of protecting 400,000 acres by the year 2010. Albemarle County alone has almost 69,000 acres protected with conservation easements and the photographs in the exhibit pay tribute to the farms, fields, and forests protected by area residents.