A Pittsburgh-based foundation has given a $2 million grant toward preservation of a former Glatfelter Pulpwood Co. tree farm in western Adams County.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation awarded the grant Wednesday to The Conservation Fund, the national nonprofit group that bought the Spring Grove-based paper company's former Tree Farm No. 1 in March for $12.5 million.

The Conservation Fund provided the "bridging money" to hold onto the 2,568 acres of timberland until enough money is raised to reimburse the group for the purchase and turn over the land to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The state has been patrolling the land, in Hamiltonban Township, since the purchase and plans eventually to add the property to adjacent Michaux State Forest.

"The grant just brings us one step closer to making Tree Farm No. 1 a permanent part of Michaux State Forest and permanently protecting the headwaters of Adams County's water supply," said Betsy Kerlin, land-conservation coordinator for the Land Conservancy of Adams County.

The land sits adjacent to Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve. Glatfelter putting up the land for sale last year spurred efforts to conserve the property, which helps replenish aquifers supplying water to nearby municipalities.

Developers could have built roughly 500 homes on the tract because of its zoning as "woodland conservation."

Todd McNew, Pennsylvania representative for The Conservation Fund, was not

In May, the state announced it would contribute $4 million toward the purchase. Several groups and government officials are working together to raise the remainder of money needed - about $7 million - to transfer the land to the state's control by January 2009. Kerlin said the group is working on other grants to find additional funds.

"We're still a little far off, but we're getting there," Kerlin said.