The Nature Conservancy in Alabama has acquired 596 acres on Bibb County’s Wheeler Mountain, the group announced Tuesday. The goal behind the purchase, it says, is to protect the area from potential threats such as commercial development.

The purchase, worth $2 million, is the result of a well established partnership with Resource Management Service and a three-month campaign through TNC’s Ireland Opportunity Fund. The Nature Conservancy in Alabama is a state branch of a global conservation organization.

“Our revolving loan fund enables us to quickly mobilize resources to protect vulnerable lands such as this, and we are grateful to those who supported this endeavor,” said TNC in Alabama State Director Mitch Reid. “We will now work to manage and restore this tract’s natural habitat and ensure its assets are protected for generations to come.”

“Much of Alabama’s natural longleaf pine forests have disappeared over the years, and we did not want to risk this same fate for Wheeler Mountain. Thankfully, we were successful in working with RMS to successfully close this acquisition and protect the rich biological diversity of this area in perpetuity,” Reid said. “RMS’ stewardship of this property since acquisition in 2006 maintained the conservation values inherent to this acquisition.”

Jimmy Bullock, senior vice president Forest Sustainability for RMS, called the property a “gem.”

“The Wheeler Mountain property is one of the most diverse natural longleaf pine stands in Alabama,” he said. “From its hardwood bottom with rich flora diversity and aquatic diversity in Gulch Creek to the top with its natural stone arch formation, Wheeler Mountain is a true natural gem.

“Our partnership with The Alabama Chapter of the Nature Conservancy enabled a win for conservation and a win for the landowner.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.