Kaine to recognize easement successes

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is expected to visit Albemarle County this week to recognize conservation easement accomplishments.

“We put a tremendous amount of emphasis on rural area protection,” Albemarle spokeswoman Lee Catlin said, adding that the governor’s visit highlights how important rural land preservation is to the county.

Through conservation easements, 70,000 acres have been preserved in Albemarle, including the preservation of 5,000 acres through the county’s Acquisition of Conservation

Easements program, Catlin said. And an estimated 17 percent to 20 percent of the county’s rural area is preserved through conservation easements.

The recognition ceremony is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Thursday at the Beaver Creek Reservoir.