ROCHESTER — The town got a $345,769 from a Local Acquisition for Natural Diversity, or LAND grant to conserve about 109 acres of land in the area of Walnut Plain Road and Old Middleboro Road. Selectmen voted to accept the grant on on Monday, Dec. 16.

Residents will have the final say in whether or not to accept the grant by voting at the annual Town Meeting on May 18. No town money will be used to fund the conservation efforts.

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon presented the grant to selectmen, and said that the land, which is currently owned by Decas Cranberry, is of special interest from a conservation standpoint because it is home to eastern box turtles.

Although not considered to be endangered at the federal level, the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife lists the eastern box turtle to be at a “special concern” status due to habitat destruction from residential and industrial developments.

Farinon also explained that an agreement was reached between Decas Cranberry and the Buzzards Bay Coalition regarding the land that will be reserved for conservation.