Local properties protected by the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy honored
Eleven properties preserved by conservation agreements with the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy have been recognized under the Virginia Treasures Program. The Commonwealth deemed these properties as lands that have important ecological, historic, scenic or recreational value to Virginia.
The Virginia Treasures Program seeks to conserve areas of the Commonwealth that add special value to local communities. These properties are vital in developing economic prosperity as well as improving the lives of Virginia residents. One goal of the program was to increase access to Virginia residents and as well as awareness of the state’s natural spaces.
With over 1,300 properties identified as Virginia Treasures, 11 are under conservation easements with the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, a local environmental non-profit. These easements aim to protect certain characteristics of a property forever, whether it be fertile farmland, habitat for rare species, or the views that make the Blue Ridge region spectacular.
The 11 selected properties include:
- A 400-acre property in Buchanan that is viewable from Interstate 81.
- A property near Hot Springs of over 850 acres with sensitive karst geology.
- A historically African-American owned farm in Forest spanning 155 acres.
- A 313-acre eco-tourism venue along the Big Otter River near Bedford.
- A 236-acre forested farm along Goose Creek near Montvale.
- A 115-acre farm property in Moneta.
- A 133-acre cattle farm with views of Botetourt County near Fincastle.
- A 57-acre property along the Roanoke River in Montgomery County with fish and bird habitat.
- A 30-acre Craig County property with rare habitat for wildlife along John’s Creek.
- A 111-acre family farm in Bedford.
- A 226-acre cattle farm along the Little Otter River near Bedford.
“We were very excited to learn that these properties were honored as Virginia Treasures by the Commonwealth,” said David Perry, executive director of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy. “We partner with local farmers and rural landowners to protect only the most special places in the greater Roanoke region, and apply high standards when deciding whether to be involved in a particular project. So to us, all of the farms, forests, rivers and streams we protect are treasures.”
The owners of the acknowledged properties received a letter commemorating their actions in fostering the natural resources in the state and for their contribution to the legacy of Virginia’s environmental beauty. The owners also received a certificate that demonstrates their property as a Virginia Treasure.
The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy has been saving land across southwest Virginia for more than two decades. Today the conservancy protects an area larger than Blacksburg and Charlottesville combined—20,000 acres—in addition to more than 60 miles of rivers and streams.
For more information on how you can help save our beautiful scenery, or to learn how you can conserve your own rural land, call (540) 985-0000, visit brlcva.org, or e-mail [email protected].