39,000 acres of open space protected

By: Steven Butler | Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: January 13, 2012

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation in 2011 protected 39,000 acres of open space across the state through 215 conservation easements.

Among the easements, 377 acres in Culpeper County were protected bringing the county’s total to 44 easements totaling about 10,121 acres.

The Culpeper donors, who preferred to remain anonymous, submitted 291 acres at Birmingham Farm and 86 acres at Morton’s Lane, according to records obtained from the VOF. The Birmingham Farm easement is currently in use for agricultural and forest production and contains a large pond and tributaries to Mountain Run, which is a tributary to the Rappahannock River and is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Morton’s Lane easement protects working timberlands, provides a bird habitat and protects the Cedar Mountain Battlefield view shed.

Throughout 2011, the VOF recorded easements in 66 localities statewide. In total the trust has 3,357 easements, which equal about 646,606 acres.

According to VOF spokesman Jason McGarvey, conservation easements are voluntary agreements between private landowners and a land trust, such as the VOF, that restrict future development while allowing compatible uses such as farming, forestry and recreation. Landowners that donate can receive state and federal tax incentives.

The Virginia General Assembly established the VOF in 1966 to encourage the preservation of the states natural and cultural heritage lands.

For more information on easements, contact the VOF at 804-786-9603 or visit virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.com.