PLUMSTED - Two more wooded properties in Plumsted, consisting of a combined 51 acres, have received final approval to be enrolled into the Natural Lands Preservation Program to permanently protect these mature forest lands from being developed forever.

Following the required municipal endorsements of the 51 acres by the Township Committee, the director of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders, Joe Vicari, advised that the county approve funding the acquisitions for permanent preservation, according to Mayor Ron Dancer.

The 51 acres of woodlands are on the west side of Route 539 between Route 528 and West Colliers Mills Road.

In addition to these 51 forested acres, Plumsted also has under review and pending approval by the Ocean County Natural LandsAdvisory Board, four more wooded properties totaling 189 acres to be permanently protected from residential development.

Regarding farmland, the Township Committee passed the required resolution of municipal endorsement at its March public meeting for another farm to be enrolled into the Farmland Preservation Program, according to the mayor. The Cameron Farm consisting of 18 acres off Long Swamp Road is now pending approval by the Ocean County Agriculture Development Board.

To date, 32 Plumsted farms containing an estimated 2,500 acres have been permanently preserved and protected from development. Another 14 farms in Plumsted containing 840 acres are in various stages of the review and approval process for future preservation, Dancer said.

Both the farmland and natural woodlands preservation programs, with the major financial support of the Ocean County freeholders and the state's Preservation Department, have saved and permanently protected more than 3,000 acres of land in Plumsted with another 1,000 pending future preservation.

Environmentally, these land preservation programs help preserve the township's rural character, water supply and quality of life, according to the mayor. Economically, the preservation programs have also prevented the construction of more than 2,000 homes to save taxpayers millions in school taxes.

Dancer said Earth Day will be celebrated on April 19 at the Plumsted library, Evergreen Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact the library at (609) 758-7888.

Senior citizens in Plumsted who need assistance in completing and filing their federal and state income tax returns in advance of the April 15 deadline may call toll free the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at 1-800-668-4899. An experienced and trained volunteer tax aide is available at the Plumsted library on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by appointment.

The Township Committee will meet April 2 at 8 p.m.