Wareham just a got a little more green.

The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted to approve a conservation restriction on three parcels of land, totaling about 48 acres, near the Weweantic River in West Wareham.

“It’s a legal document that puts certain restrictions on the land,” Wareham Conservation Administrator David Pichette said about the conservation restriction.

The area now protected by the state is known as the Douglas Westgate property, and is adjacent to Paper Mill Road.

A proposal to conserve the land was approved at the 2011 fall Town Meeting. The Wareham Land Trust and the Buzzards Bay Coalition will be “co-holders” of the land.

The Buzzards Bay Coalition is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. The Wareham Land Trust is also a private nonprofit, which works to protect open space in Wareham.

According to the conservation restriction document, one of the reasons for conserving the land is to protect the Weweantic River, which is part of the Buzzards Bay watershed.  The document states that the river is “federally listed as one of the Commonwealth’s most polluted waters for nutrients.”

The river is home to a number of species including herring, eels, and smelt.

In addition to improving the quality of the water, the area is also home to many land-dwelling animals. A large portion of the area is also designated as a “Priority Habitat for Rare Species,” due to the presence of Eastern box turtles.

“I think it’s great conserving our natural resources for future generations,” said Selectman Cara Winslow.

Certain activities will be allowed in the protected area, provided they don’t have too much impact on the area. “Passive recreation,” such as walking, running, fishing, and bird watching are permitted.  Other activities such as hunting and riding all-terrain vehicles through the area are prohibited.