Former Premier and bank chief Sir David and Lady Gibbons donated almost three acres of land to conservation group, Bermuda Audubon Society.

The land at the west end of Devonshire Marsh is next to the Freer Cox Memorial Reserve.

It has been hailed an important wetland habitat for plants and waterfowl.

The Gibbons family decided nine months ago to make the donation.

Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons played a hand in the decision when he asked the family to have the area designated as wetlands.

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, a world-wide conservation organisation, had recognised the marsh as a wetland habitat.

The land would never be developed so it made sense to donate it, said Bank of Butterfield chairman Sir Gibbons at the hand-over ceremony.

"It was the most appropriate choice to pass it along to the Audubon Society because they own much of the surrounding land,'' he added.

Society president Mr. Andrew Dobson, who was at the ceremony, thanked the Gibbons family.

It was important to preserve Devonshire Marsh as much as possible, he added.

ISLAND CONSERVATION -- Sir David Gibbons (far right) stands by the land he donated to the Bermuda Audubon Society on behalf of his family. With him, from left, are Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons, Lady Gibbons, the society's treasurer Mr. Teddy Cassidy, and society president Mr. Andrew Dobson.