Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue visited Decatur County Thursday to announce the fall opening of the Silver Lake land conservation project, which will create numerous recreational opportunities in the pristine wilderness area.

The Silver Lake site, purchased jointly by Decatur County, state government and other conservation organizations, was one of three stops Perdue made on Thursday to promote the new Conserve Georgia campaign.

Conserve Georgia will coordinate the efforts of public agencies and private entities to preserve the state's natural resources for future use.

About 150 people heard Perdue announce the approval of funding for acquisition of the Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area's second phase, which is 2,594 acres of the total 4,611 acres of the tract commonly referred to as the Hog Farm.

The second phase's cost is $10.8 million, of which Decatur County chipped in $3 million. Perdue also announced that Decatur County had been approved for a low interest land conservation loan through the Georgia Land Conservation Program to help pay for its share.

Once the three phases of property acquisition are complete-the first phase of which included 3,790 acres of the Silver Lake tract and was completed earlier this year-the total Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area will be 8,401 acres for a total cost of $38.6 million.

The third and final acquisition of the Silver Lake, Hog Farm tracts is expected to be completed by early 2009.

The area is former International Paper land located south of the Bethany Community, near Lake Seminole.

The governor said the Silver Lake property would be open to the public this fall: fishing and hiking will be permitted starting on Aug. 1; public hunting will begin with the start of the small game season on Aug. 15.

"How'd all y'all find this place?" Perdue joked to those gathered as he began his remarks within sight of Silver Lake on a sunny, pleasantly warm day. "It's beautiful. It's a special occasion when we can have this property preserved for perpetuity. It's a special day for Georgia's land preservation."

Perdue said Conserve Georgia is all about partnership between public and private groups to conserve land, energy, water and all of Georgia's natural resources. He said he wanted the word conservation to have a positive denotation and not one of sacrifice, as he hoped the practice would lead future generations of Georgians to enjoy the state's natural beauty and outdoor activities.

Conserve Georgia is a statewide multi-agency marketing and public education effort aimed at promoting the conservation of energy, land and water; the prevention of litter, and the promotion of recycling.

Gov. Perdue, who has previously made efforts to conserve the state's usable water during the recent drought, said he had signed into law two state initiatives toward its conservation goals. They are: a mandate to lower the state government's energy use by 15 percent between now and 2020; and an energy innovation center that will research and commercialize biologically based energy sources and other "green" renewable fuel sources.

Decatur County is one of four local governments to receive land conservation grants and low-interest loans. Harris County in North Georgia, as well as Grady and Doughtery counties in South Georgia, will receive land conservation grants along with the city of Sandy Springs in metropolitan Atlanta. Harris and Decatur counties received low interest conservation loans.

In addition to protecting the natural habitat of several endangered species of animals, the acquisition of the Silver Lake properties will enable local citizens and others to enjoy a range of outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, Decatur County Board of Commissioners Chairman Palmer Rich said at Thursday afternoon's event at Silver Lake.

Rich, who retired from International Paper and who formerly worked as a forester in the area, said it would also preserve its longleaf pine forest and wildlife as well as the enjoyment of the Flint River and the Spring Creek tributary.