As development pressure continues to build in Randolph County, landowners Gene and Pat Holder, in partnership with Three Rivers Land Trust, have permanently conserved 211 acres of forested land. 

The Holders said their decision to conserve the land was guided by their love of wildlife and desire to see it thrive in Randolph County. “Knowing this property is conserved forever is the best outcome for us,” said Gene Holder. 

“Without conservation-minded landowners, like Gene and Pat, conservation projects like this do not happen,” said Emily Callicutt, TRLT’s Director of Conservation. “We’re grateful to the Holders for their decision to choose conservation over development.” 

The Holder’s property contains a mature hardwood forest and connected stream corridors that provide habitat for white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, bobcats, and migratory songbirds. The property also protects water quality in the Yadkin River basin by filtering pollutants, stabilizing streambanks, and supporting better water quality for communities downstream. “Protecting forests like this helps maintain water quality, supports wildlife populations, and maintains the rural character that makes our region special,” said Travis Morehead, Executive Director of Three Rivers Land Trust. 

With North Carolina’s rural lands becoming increasingly lost to development, conserving this 211-acre property is a win for conservation. “Landowners who permanently protect their land through a conservation easement provide a much-needed balance to the development that is taking place in the rural areas of North Carolina,” states Travis Morehead, Executive Director of Three Rivers Land Trust.