January 11, 2000 - The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation group, has purchased a highly significant rare plant site in North Carolina from the Hancock Timber Resource Group. Located in Onslow County next to Camp Lejeune Marine Base, 735-acre Sandy Run Swamp Savanna contains 19 plants recognized as rare on a national or statewide level. The federally endangered Cooley's meadowrue, proposed federally endangered golden sedge, and state endangered Carolina grass-of-Parnassus grow in a longleaf pine savanna in the heart of the property. The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina Chapter will manage the property as part of its statewide system of nature preserves.

"Sandy Run Swamp Savanna provides a critical link in a corridor of natural areas called Onslow Bay that extends from Croatan National Forest to the Holly Shelter Game Lands and the Northeast Cape Fear River," noted Katherine Skinner, executive director of The Nature Conservancy's North Carolina Chapter.

David Kimbrough, HTRG regional forester in Charlotte, noted, "We have enjoyed working cooperatively with The Nature Conservancy to identify another parcel of land that is more appropriately managed for the public benefit and for the benefit of a unique plant. The endangered Cooley's meadowrue should now have an opportunity to flourish on this site in perpetuity because of this transaction."

Peter Via of Roanoke, Virginia, contributed $100,000 toward the purchase of Sandy Run Swamp Savanna in an effort to protect habitat for eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. The property lies within a cluster of eastern diamondback populations that are centered on Great Sandy Run Pocosin in Camp Lejeune. Considered an endangered species in North Carolina, eastern diamondback populations have declined because of habitat loss and human predation.

In addition to the biologically rich longleaf pine savanna habitat, Sandy Run Swamp Savanna contains loblolly pine plantations. Nature Conservancy staff will restore the preserve to its original condition by planting native longleaf pine and managing the forest with prescribed burning.