By Alabama Public Radio
northeast Alabama – The Nature Conservancy and Forever Wild, Alabama's land preservation program, have made a major purchase in northeast Alabama.
The two groups have secured more than 21-thousand acres of scenic wilderness known for a beautiful rock and waterfall formation called the ``Walls of Jericho,''. The area also contains the headwaters of the ecologically important Paint Rock River, which is home to endangered plant and animal species. The property straddles the Alabama and Tennessee border. The two groups bought it in late December for nearly 14 million dollars from the Stevenson Land Company.
Forever Wild plans to buy the 12-thousand acres that lie in Alabama within the next two months. The Nature Conservancy will hold the remaining 9-thousand acres as Tennessee officials pursue federal Forestry Legacy money to complete its purchase.