Foothills Land Conservancy protects more than 11,000 acres

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Foothills Land Conservancy says it protected 11,711 acres in 2014 through 13 conservation easements.

Director Bill Clabough told The Daily Times (http://bit.ly/17H7akS) that the amount was a record for the Maryville, Tennessee-based organization, which conserved 11,000 acres in 2013 and 6,000 acres in 2012.

A conservation easement allows landowners to place permanent restrictions on the future uses of property.

The Foothills Land Conservancy said it has protected a total of 58,711 acres to date in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.