SALEM, N.H. (AP) - Voters in more than a dozen southern New Hampshire towns are spending their tax dollars to conserve land after rejecting spending requests from fire, police and school officials.

Some towns plan to use the money almost immediately, but others are banking it until they find suitable property.

Collectively, voters agreed to spend more than $2 million to conserve land in the region.

Derry Conservation Commission Chairman Paul Dion says preserving land protects New Hampshire's quality of life and provides a place for recreation.

On average, about 7% of land in southern New Hampshire is conserved. Hampstead and Kingston have the highest percentage of conservation land, about 12%. Pelham is conserving about 10%.