The Orange County Lands Legacy Program has received an Excellence in County Planning
award.
The National Association of County Planners last month recognized the program for outstanding achievement in protecting natural areas in a rapidly growing area. The county enacted a comprehensive program for the acquisition of priority natural and cultural resource lands in April 2000 and has since protected 1,761 acres.
“The success of this planning and implementation process is the direct result of the overwhelming commitment of Orange County citizens and elected officials and their work is worthy of recognition and congratulations,†said Judy Francis, chair of the NACP awards committee.
The program has also been recognized by the Trust for Public Land and the National Association of Counties as one of two runners-up for the 2007 national County Leadership in Conservation Award.
“In the last decade, with the help of funding made available by the board of commissioners
and approved by voters, we’ve been fortunate to protect important Natural Heritage sites, land-bank future parklands and open space and ensure that prime and threatened farmland will be here for future agriculture,†said David Stancil, the county’s environment and resource director.