Editorials

Since its inception in 1992, Alabama’s Forever Wild program has bought thousands of acres of recreational and environmentally sensitive land that will be preserved for future generations to enjoy. It is one of the most successful programs in the state.

Now, as a gift to us all, we have learned that the state has bought some 9,300 acres along the Perdido River, which divides Alabama and Florida. One of the best remaining “black water” streams, the tea-colored river flows undammed and unhurried for more than 60 miles before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Its waters are the habitat of a wide variety of aquatic life. It winds its way through a virgin Atlantic white-cedar swamp. Along it are rare pitcher plant seepage bogs, upland longleaf forests and an occasional white sand beach.

And now it belongs to us all.

Meanwhile, Florida is working to buy land on its side of the river. If it is successful, the Perdido could soon be one of the few streams in the nation that is preserved from headwaters to mouth.

In time, this purchase may be linked to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta preservation project, which would give Alabama a remarkable resource for the study of coastal conservation.

A number of agencies worked together to bring this about: The Nature Conservancy, which first bought the land from International Paper Corp. and held the tract while Alabama was making arrangements to purchase it; the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, working with the Forever Wild board, put together the $13.3 million package; and the federal government provided matching grants to help cover the cost.

It took a private sector, state and federal effort to bring this about, and we want to thank all those involved.

This is a wonderful gift for our state.