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Chapter 6: Natural and Cultural Systems Element <br /> impact recreation purposes. The County encourages private <br /> preservation of open space areas through education and outreach. <br /> LANDS LEGACY PROGRAM <br /> In 2000 Orange County accelerated the pace of conservation by <br /> establishing the Lands Legacy program -- the first comprehensive <br /> county land conservation program in North Carolina. Lands Legacy was <br /> the first focus of the new Environment and Resource Conservation <br /> Department, a department established in 1998 to make environmental <br /> protection a separate function of county government. Through Lands <br /> Legacy the County collaborates with local land trusts, OWASA, area <br /> universities, and other partners to protect some of the County's most <br /> important natural and cultural resources before they are lost or <br /> irreparably damaged. The types of land protected include natural areas <br /> and wildlife habitat, parkland, prime farmland, historic and cultural <br /> sites, and stream buffers. The County also works with its advisory <br /> boards to help guide its acquisition priorities and sets those priorities <br /> every two years through the adoption of the Lands Legacy Action Plan. <br /> To date, Lands Legacy has protected nearly 2,300 acres, as described <br /> in Table 6-3. <br /> TABLE 6-3: LAND PROTECTED THROUGH LANDS LEGACY PROGRAM <br /> (2007) <br /> Fee Simple Acres <br /> Acquisitions <br /> -Parkland 670 <br /> -Natural lands/Other 307 <br /> 977 acres <br /> Conservation <br /> Easements <br /> (privately-owned <br /> lands) <br /> -Prime farmland 1,088 <br /> -Natural areas 210 <br /> 1,298 acres <br /> Total Protected Land 2,275 acres <br /> CURRENT ESTIMATES OF PROTECTED LAND <br /> The County's Environment and Resource Conservation Department <br /> (ERCD) maintains a comprehensive database of protected lands <br /> throughout the County, including public parkland, nature preserves, <br /> and other public and private open space dedicated for conservation. <br /> The data includes conservation easements held by local land trusts, <br /> OWASA, Orange County and several other entities. <br /> OravV�ee,Cou*ityCovnprehev,,Cve P4 vv Page 6-64 <br />