Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Similar to public agencies that conserve land, there are many private, nonprofit conservation organizations that do so. Each typically serves a particular region of the state or exists for a particular purpose, such as habitat protection or historic preservation. Organizations focusing mainly on land protection are typically called land trusts or conservancies.
| Land Trust | Contact Info | Locality |
|---|---|---|
| Land Trust | Contact Info | Locality |
|---|---|---|
| Land Trust | Contact Info | Locality |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail Conservancy | 416 Campbell Avenue SW, Suite 101, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-953-3571 atc-varo@appalachiantrail.org | Albemarle County, Amherst County, Augusta County, Bland County, Botetourt County, Clarke County, Craig County, Fauquier County, Giles County, Grayson County, Greene County, Madison County, Page County, Rappahannock County, Roanoke County, Rockbridge County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Warren County, Washington County, Wythe County |
| Blue Ridge Land Conservancy | 1305 Maple Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 25016 540-985-0000 Info@brlcva.org | Bedford County, Botetourt County, City of Roanoke, City of Salem, Craig County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Montgomery County, Roanoke County |
| Brandy Station Foundation | P.O. Box 165, Brandy Station, VA 22714 540-727-7718 | Culpeper County |
| Capital Region Land Conservancy | P.O. Box 17306, Richmond, VA 23226 804-745-3110 parker@capitalregionland.org | Charles City County, Chesterfield County, City of Richmond, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, New Kent County, Powhatan County |
| Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation | 8437 Valley Pike, Middletown, VA 22645 540-869-2064 info@ccbf.us | Frederick County |
| Central Virginia Battlefields Trust | P.O. Box 3417, Fredericksburg, VA 22402 540-907-0527 executivedirector@cvbt.org | City of Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County |
| Central Virginia Land Conservancy | P.O. Box 12105, Lynchburg, VA 24506 434-942-4320 info@cvalc.org | Amherst County, Appomattox County, Buckingham County, Campbell County, City of Lynchburg, Nelson County |
| Ever Green Team | P.O. Box 111, Blackstone, VA 23824 434-264-5869 | Amelia County, Brunswick County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Dinwiddie County, Halifax County, Highland County, Mecklenburg County, Nottoway County, Page County, Prince Edward County, Surry County |
| Friends of Dragon Run | P.O. Box 882, Gloucester, VA 23061 804-462-5608 President@dragonrun.org | Essex County, Gloucester County, King and Queen County, Middlesex County |
| Friends of the Rappahannock | 3219 Fall Hill Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22404 540-373-3448 info@riverfriends.org | Caroline County, City of Fredericksburg, Culpeper County, Essex County, Fauquier County, Greene County, King and Queen County, King George County, Lancaster County, Madison County, Middlesex County, Orange County, Rappahannock County, Richmond County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Westmoreland County |
| Historic Green Springs | P.O. Box 1685, Louisa, VA 23093 540-967-8321 | Louisa County |
| Historic Polegreen Church Foundation | P.O. Box 2111, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 804-730-3837 admin@historicpolegreenchurch.org | Hanover County |
| Historic Virginia Land Conservancy | 5000 New Point Road, Suite 3101, Williamsburg, VA 23188 757-565-0343 ann@historicvirginialandconservancy.org | City of Williamsburg, Essex County, Goochland County, James City County, King and Queen County, King William County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, New Kent County, York County |
| James River Association | 211 Rocketts Way, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23231 804-788-8811 info@thejamesriver.org | Albemarle County, Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Botetourt County, Buckingham County, Campbell County, Charles City County, Chesterfield County, City of Hampton, City of Hopewell, City of Lynchburg, City of Newport News, City of Portsmouth, City of Richmond, City of Suffolk, City of Williamsburg, Cumberland County, Fluvanna County, Goochland County, Henrico County, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Nelson County, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Rockbridge County, Surry County |
| Kernstown Battlefield Association | P.O. Box 1327, Winchester, VA 22604 202-302-9129 kba@kernstownbattle.org | City of Winchester, Frederick County |
| Living River Trust | 475 Water Street, C103A, Portsmouth, VA 23704 757-478-7311 Rob.robins@baydiesel.com | City of Chesapeake, City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Virginia Beach |
| Mathews Land Conservancy | P.O. Box 306, Mathews, VA 23109 804-725-9685 info@mathewslandconservancy.org | Mathews County |
| New River Conservancy | P.O. Box 1480, West Jefferson, NC 28694 863-364-8162 info@newriverconservancy.org | Carroll County, Giles County, Grayson County |
| New River Land Trust | P.O. Box 11057, Blacksburg, VA 24062 540-951-1704 nrlt@newriverlandtrust.org | Bland County, Carroll County, Floyd County, Giles County, Montgomery County, Pulaski County, Smyth County, Wythe County |
| Northern Neck Land Conservancy | P.O. Box 125, Lancaster, VA 22503 804-462-0979 execdir@nnconserve.org | King George County, Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Richmond County, Westmoreland County |
| Northern Virginia Conservation Trust | 4022-A Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003 703-354-5093 info@nvct.org | Arlington County, Caroline County, City of Alexandria, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, City of Fredericksburg, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Fairfax County, Fauquier County, King George County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County |
| Old Dominion Land Conservancy | 621 W. Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132 540-338-0077 henry@odlc.us | Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Rappahannock County, Stafford County |
| Piedmont Environmental Council | P.O. Box 460, Warrenton, VA 20188 540-347-2334 pec@pecva.org | Albemarle County, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Fauquier County, Greene County, Loudoun County, Madison County, Orange County, Rappahannock County |
| Potomac Appalachian Trail Club | 118 Park Street SE, Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-0315 Info@patc.net | City of Harrisonburg, City of Waynesboro, Page County, Warren County |
| Potomac Conservancy | 210 S. Braddock Street, Suite 101, Winchester, VA 22601 540-667-3606 lands@potomac.org | Clarke County, Frederick County, Page County, Shenandoah County, Warren County |
| Rivanna Conservation Alliance | 1150 River Road, Suite One, Charlottesville, VA 22901 434-977-4837 exec@rivannariver.org | Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Louisa County, Nelson County |
| Roanoke River Rails to Trails Inc. and Tobacco Heritage Trail | 200 S. Mecklenburg Avenue, South Hill, VA 23970 434-447-7101 | Brunswick County, Charlotte County, Halifax County, Mecklenburg County |
| Rockbridge Area Conservation Council | P.O. Box 564, Lexington, VA 24450 540-463-2330 RACC@rockbridge.net | Rockbridge County |
| Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation | P.O. Box 897, New Market, VA 22844 540-740-4545 info@svbf.net | Augusta County, City of Harrisonburg, City of Staunton, City of Waynesboro, City of Winchester, Clarke County, Frederick County, Highland County, Page County, Rockbridge County, Shenandoah County, Warren County |
| Southern Virginia Land Conservancy | PO Box 10940, Danville, VA 24543 276-224-6489 info@svalc.org | Halifax County, Henry County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County |
| Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation | P.O. Box 124, Trevilians, VA 23170 804-589-8989 tsbf@trevilianstation.org | Louisa County |
| Valley Conservation Council | 128 W Bruce Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-886-3541 info@valleyconservation.org | Allegheny County, Augusta County, Botetourt County, City of Harrisonburg, City of Staunton, City of Waynesboro, City of Winchester, Frederick County, Highland County, Page County, Rockbridge County, Rockingham County, Shenandoah County, Warren County |
| Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust | P.O. Box 1114, Exmore, VA 23350 757-442-5885 info@veslt.org | Accomack County, Northampton County |
| Waterford Foundation | P.O. Box 142, Waterford, VA 20197 540-882-3018 info@waterfordva.org | Loudoun County |
| Land Trust | Phone Number | Email Address |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks Unlimited | 901-758-3825 | |
| Land Trust of Virginia | 540-687-8441 | info@landtrustva.org |
| Preservation Virginia | 804-648-1889 | info@preservationvirginia.org |
| Scenic Virginia | 804-643-8439 | email@scenicvirginia.org |
| The 500-Year Forest Foundation | 434-953-3325 | 500yearforests@gmail.com |
| The Conservation Fund | 703-525-6300 | webmaster@conservationfund.org |
| The Nature Conservancy | 434-295-6106 | virginiadirector@tnc.org |
| Trust for Public Land | 202-543-7552 | washdc@tpl.org |
| Virginia Outdoors Foundation | 866-863-9800 | info@vof.org |
Nonprofit organizations in Virginia qualified to accept land for protection are defined (pursuant to the Virginia Conservation Easement Act, §§ 10.1-1009 through 10.1-1016), as being a charitable corporation, charitable association, or charitable trust that has been declared exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C.A. § 501 (c) (3) and the primary purposes or powers of which include one or more of the following:
These qualified land conservation organizations are defined as holders in the act, as they are eligible to acquire and hold a conservation easement by gift, purchase, devise or bequest. In order to hold a conservation easement, such an organization must have a principal office in the Commonwealth for at least five years. Until an organization meets these requirements, it may co-hold a conservation easement with another holder that meets the requirements.
Virginia's United Land Trusts or (VaULT), organized in 2000 to address the growing interest and number of organizations involved in land conservation. It represents about 30 private land conservation organizations in Virginia. The group's goals are to:
For information about VaULT contact Ellen Shepard eshepard@vaunitedlandtrusts.org or 540-529-1595.
There are numerous national and regional land conservation groups. Some focus on particular resources and some provide general information useful to all land conservation organizations. Here's a list of some of those groups:
