Carbon County is doing an assessment to find out how to best preserve the agricultural and open land throughout the county.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners approved an agreement with The Trust for Public Land to provide professional services through a conservation finance feasibility study to research and analyze a range of parks and conservation funding options and provide recommendations for a public finance strategy. The total cost of the agreement is $35,000 with $15,000 from the William Penn Foundation, $10,000 from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and $10,000 from Carbon County.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said the action highlights the commitment the board has “to the preservation of agricultural land and open space in Carbon County.”

He noted that nature, agricultural lands and open spaces are the county’s three areas that need to be protected for the future.

He thanked the trust, as well as the William Penn Foundation and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation for their contributions to this assessment.

The feasibility study will look at various locations throughout Carbon County and help determine what land should be preserved and what funding options are available to help with the preservation.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that this study is important because “it is especially important in preserving our forest land and land along the river.

“We have so much tourism because of our natural beauty,” he added, noting that Carbon County has the trails, the train rides, rafting and trails that are others in the works. “It’s extremely important that we pursue the preservation of our natural beauty here in Carbon County.”