Conservation group acquires Jimmy Carter's family farm in Georgia
The 2,458-acre property will expand a local wildlife area to nearly 7,000 acres and open to the public by 2027.
The Conservation Fund has acquired the Carter family farm near Plains, Georgia, to protect it as wildlife habitat, according to the Times of India. The approximately 2,458-acre property, which includes fields and forests, will be used to expand the Lanahassee Creek Wildlife Management Area to nearly 7,000 acres.
The land was purchased for $8.5 million and is intended to support longleaf pine ecosystems and species such as the threatened gopher tortoise. The Conservation Fund plans to transfer the property to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in 2028.
Public access for activities including fishing, hunting, and birdwatching is expected to begin as early as 2027. This access may be facilitated through a temporary lease before the formal transfer to state ownership occurs.
The farm holds historical significance as the site where former US President Jimmy Carter grew up and worked. Carter's grandson, Jason Carter, said the family is grateful that the land will be protected for future generations.
The acquisition aims to restore the area to its native condition, following Carter's previous requests to replant the property with young longleaf pine trees. The land also features creeks that feed into the Flint River watershed.