As big developers continue to build on Georgia’s forested land, farmland and wetlands, Georgia PIRG is working to conserve our natural heritage.

A recent University of Georgia study reports that metro Atlanta is losing 54 acres of trees to development every day, and most of the acreage is being replaced with asphalt and concrete associated with new strip malls, subdivisions and roads.

Georgia PIRG’s “Save Our Open Spaces” campaign is working to establish a land conservation income tax credit that would give landowners an incentive to permanently protect their land from out-of-control development.

This summer, Georgia PIRG garnered the support of the state’s largest land conservation groups for the initiative, including the Georgia Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy of Georgia and The Conservation Fund.

Georgia PIRG advocates continue to meet with Gov. Sonny Perdue’s staff, state legislators and representatives from the agricultural and forestry communities to ensure broad support for the measure during the legislative session.