Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know
Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Once priorities for conservation have been set by the department's natural heritage program, work begins to protect the most important natural areas using a variety of conservation tools. Often this work involves other governmental agencies, private organizations and concerned citizens. The level of protection extended to an area depends on many factors including the relative rarity or fragility of its natural features.
Enabling legislation passed in 1989 entitled the Virginia Natural Area Preserves Act codified the Natural Area Preservation Fund and charged the Department of Conservation and Recreation to establish a nature preserves system and to manage these natural areas for long-term protection.
A variety of other conservation tools, including conservation easements, registry, designation, and dedication are utilized to protect public and privately owned natural areas identified through the natural heritage inventory process.
Click to see the staff list of the Natural Area Protection section.
