Good conservation news in the Shenandoah Valley

Valley Conservation Council just sent out their 2011 Annual Report along with their February newsletter, Vision, and both contain great news for conservation efforts in the region. The headliner story - "Region Has Four of the Top Five Conservation Counties for 2011" touts the hard work and successes in acreage conserved by private landowners in cooperation with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF). Leading the list is Rockbridge County (11 new easements in 2011 comprising 2,260 acres bringing the county's total to 35,200 acres) and Bath County (eight new easements comprising 2,567 acres bringing their total to 23,956 acres).  Augusta County (17,777 cumulative acres) and Highland County (11,284 cumulative acres) are also in the Commonwealth's top five.

New Mole Hill Easement
in Rockingham County.
Photo from VCC website.

Virginia's largest agricultural county, Rockingham, is far behind its neighbors to the south with only 3,721 acres in conservation easements with the VOF. But the good news for 2011 is that seven new easements totaling 1,066 acres were added, a 40% increase. Keep in mind that other organizations like the Virginia Department of Forestry have easements (including one of 1,000 acres in Rockingham) that are not included in the totals.

The newsletter and annual report highlight other important work of VCC, which has focused on local and regional policies that, while allowing for inevitable growth, promote minimal impacts on the Shenandoah Valley region's environmental, agricultural, historical, and cultural heritage. You may not own land to place in an easement or be able to attend VCC's programs, but you can donate to their important work that helps sustain what we love about the Valley! Lots of small donations add up... and that ain't chicken feed.

Proud to be a member

The Nature Conservancy announced today that it purchased 13,350 acres in the Dragon Run and Mattaponi watersheds. It then sold the land to The Forestland Group but retained a permanent conservation easement on the entire property - it is the largest conservation easement in the Commonwealth's history. According to the press release the easement protects one of the most unique environments in the state:

An ecological gem, Dragon Run includes diverse tidal cypress swamp communities and habitat for 90 bird species, such as bald eagles and prothonotary warblers. The waters are home to 55 species of fish and provide vital nurseries for perch, rockfish, and alewives, which are important for Chesapeake Bay commercial fishermen and sportsmen.

I'm proud to be a member of the Nature Conservancy and know that my dollars in dues/donations contribute in a small way to make preservation like this possible.