On August 21, 2025, Three Rivers Land Trust conserved 87 acres of working farm and forest land in Montgomery and Richmond Counties, adding to the network of nearby conserved lands. These parcels are adjacent to over 350 acres of land previously conserved by TRLT.
As development pressure continues to grow in the region, conserving working land and forests is more important than ever before. According to the American Farmland Trust, Montgomery County is projected to lose 44% and Richmond County is projected to lose 12% of its working land by 2040 to low-density residential development. Thanks to forward-thinking landowners Lori and Richard Greene, their family farm will not be part of that statistic.
“Dedicating this conservation easement in memory of my parents, Carl and Gail Gallimore, is a small gesture of appreciation to recognize the important life lessons I learned while growing up on a family farm. My mom’s wish was to conserve the land for future farmers and their families. Family farms like ours are disappearing and being developed for homes and businesses. It’s a sad realization that future generations will grow up with concrete and asphalt and not know the treasure of working in peach and tobacco fields or walking through green pastures and forests teeming with wildlife. I want to conserve a small remnant of our farm, as my mom wished, so that the next generation can have those experiences, says Ms. Greene.
In addition to productive agricultural land, the property contains several stands of longleaf pine. These remaining stands increase the value of conserving this property by providing the necessary habitat for the plant and animal life that inhabit the longleaf ecosystem.
“By working with willing property owners through conservation easements, we efficiently safeguard rural economies, water quality, and wildlife habitat. We are so thankful the landowners chose to work with TRLT to conserve their important working lands in the Sandhills,” states Emily Callicutt, Director of Conservation for Three Rivers Land Trust.
Travis Morehead, Executive Director of Three Rivers Land Trust, shares, “Since 1995, TRLT has conserved over 50,000 acres in the Piedmont and Sandhills of North Carolina thanks to the support of members and landowners like Lori and Richard Greene. Without that support, important projects like this don’t happen.”
