The Regional District of Nanaimo now has the money to purchase Hamilton Marsh lands. While the original price tag was $30 million, Mosaic Forest Management lowered its asking price to $28 million in January and in a Wednesday, Feb. 25 press release, the RDN announced it has secured the finances to acquire the 360-hectare site. Almost $550,000 was raised by the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust, Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, Hamilton Wetlands and Forests Preservation Society and Oceanside Ducks Unlimited Canada, with additional assistance from the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Government of Canada, Nature Trust of B.C. and Sitka Foundation. …The deal is expected to close March 31 and subsequently, will be the RDN’s 13th regional park and conservation area, the press release said. …Mature forests within the Coastal Douglas-fir moist maritime subzone are located on the lands.