Rhode Island has permanently protected 575 acres of land worth $9.59 million. The protected lands were purchased by leveraging $3.58 million in voter-approved bond funds with grant support from federal and local partners. The conserved lands will be protected by Rhode Island’s State Land Conservation Program, its Agricultural Land Preservation Commission, and its Open Space Grant Program. “Investments in open space and working farmland protect historic and locally significant lands, enhance our communities, and strengthen the state’s climate resilience,” said Terry Gray, director of Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management. Since 1985, Rhode Island’s State Land Conservation Program has protected more than 20,000 acres. Passage of legislation dubbed the Rhode Island Green Bond in 2022 means the state will have an additional $5 million to further land conservation efforts. Read more HERE.