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"3 5 <br />The Charles Mauldin Farm, Wilkes County <br />conservation easement purchased by the <br />Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust <br />Charles Mauldin tells his community that he wants to set an example for other large land <br />owners in leaving a legacy of protected open space for their children. After farming the land for <br />37 years, he wants the land to continue to produce timber and crops, and "I don't want to see <br />houses or condominiums up here." He was willing to sell the development rights on his property <br />for one -fifth the estimated value. The grant from the NC Farmland Preservation Trust Fund <br />reimbursed Mauldin for the substantial survey and appraisal costs for the highly leveraged bargain <br />sale. <br />Like many other farms in the low mountains of northwestern North Carolina, most of this <br />farm has been converted to production of timber. The sustainable forestry management practices, <br />combined with wildlife habitat concerns, has qualified this farm for enrollment in the NC Forest <br />Service "Forest Stewardship Program." It is hoped that the conservation easement over this tree <br />farm will have educational demonstration benefits to influence protection of other nearby farms <br />and forest lands. <br />�j9 <br />