The Wildlands Conservancy Thursday announced the purchase of 180 acres of significant natural habitat in Tunkhannock and Tobyhanna townships, Monroe County to add to the organization’s land holdings.

Adding acreage to Wildlands Conservancy’s 482-acre Maple Tract Preserve, the property will protect a portion of the Tunkhannock Creek and wildlife habitat for notable species including osprey, bald eagles, goshawks and a population of Northern Flying Squirrel, a “state endangered” mammal species, which has been confirmed on the property.

The parcel is critical to connecting other preserved lands and is in close proximity to Wildlands’ 1,593-acre Thomas Darling Preserve and the nearby State Game Lands #127, which is a 25,527-acre area.

Through this purchase, Wildlands has made the property open to the public, and with future trails planned, the parcel will be open for passive recreation including hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing.

Wildlands acknowledges the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Monroe County for provided funding for the purchase, and the former owners of the property, the Haase Family, for their cooperation in the purchase.

“The protection of this property is an important conservation success and is instrumental in continuing our mission to protect environmentally important land,” remarks Christopher M. Kocher, president of Wildlands, “Projects like this one provide connectivity through some of the area’s most highly sensitive wildlife and wetland habitat.”

Christine Dettore, director of Monroe County Planning Commission says, “Monroe County was pleased to assist in the acquisition of the Haase Property which will enhance the access to properties already acquired by Wildlands, The Nature Conservancy and both Tunkhannock and Tobyhanna Townships.  Partnerships such as this continue to prove to be the success of the County’s Open Space Program.  We look forward to our continued work with Wildlands Conservancy.”

“DCNR is proud to be a partner with Wildlands Conservancy and Monroe County on acquiring this 180-acre tract.  This project fits nicely to our work in the Pocono Forests and Water Conservation Landscape and helps to conserve land and provide outdoor recreation opportunities in a region that relies on those opportunities for economic vitality,” says DCNR Secretary Richard Allan.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Wildlands has protected more than 50,000 acres of land, owns nine nature preserves totaling over 2,600 acres and holds 65 conservation easements for the permanent protection of over 7,000 acres.

For more information on this property and the organization’s land conservation efforts, contact Abigail Pattishall, vice president of conservation, at 610-965-4397 ext. 125 or send email to: apattishall@wildlandspa.org.

3/11/2013