Roughly 3,500 acres of forest on Glebe Mountain in southern Vermont will become part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is used by birders, hunters, hikers, mountain bikers, snowmobilers, and skiers.

“Under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service stewardship, the property will be made more accessible for expanded and compatible public access and uses,” refuge manager Andrew French said in a statement.

The land, located in Londonderry and Windham, is deemed a high-priority habitat for many species of birds and mammals. It has been owned by The Nature Conservancy since 2019. The non-profit group has helped conserve more than 300,000 acres of land and 2,000 miles of shoreline in Vermont. Many of these lands are later transferred to government agencies for management.