Ocean County officials have approved the preservation of nearly 90 acres of land across Eagleswood, Berkeley and Plumsted townships as part of the county’s ongoing effort to protect open space and farmland.

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners approved the acquisitions in September through the county’s Natural Land Trust Fund, following recommendations from the Natural Lands Advisory Committee.

The properties include 78.35 acres in Eagleswood Township, 1.22 acres in Berkeley Township and 9.97 acres in Plumsted Township. The additions build on more than 30,000 acres of open space and 3,600 acres of farmland already preserved through the county program.

In Berkeley, a 1.22-acre parcel located near U.S. Route 9 was donated to the county by a private property owner. Officials said the property sits between preserved lands and contains existing trails that could eventually connect with the previously preserved 746-acre NJ Pulverizing property and a section of the Barnegat Branch Trail.

Ocean County also approved the $850,000 purchase of 78.35 acres along Route 9 in Eagleswood. County officials said the environmentally sensitive property had faced the potential development of nine single-family homes.

In Plumsted, the county will spend $255,000 to purchase the development rights to a 9.97-acre mostly wooded farm on Hopkins Road. The property will remain privately owned and operated as farmland, while Ocean County will hold the easement and development rights to ensure it remains permanently preserved.

The farm is located near approximately 64 acres of county-preserved land known as the Schen property, or Old Hopkins Farm, and other preserved properties in the surrounding area.

The Natural Lands Trust Fund is used to protect forests, wetlands, farmland, water resources and other open spaces throughout Ocean County.

County voters will also be asked in November to consider increasing the Natural Lands Trust Fund tax rate from 1.2 cents to 2.2 cents per $100 of equalized property valuation. Officials say the additional funding would support future land acquisitions, maintenance, cleanup and habitat protection.