RICHMOND, Va.(AP) — Virginia has added nearly 100 new acres of protected natural areas meant to help rare or declining plant and animal species.
The state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation said Wednesday that it had recently added tracts of land to two natural area preserves.
The department said 44 acres were added to The Cedars Natural Area Preserve in Southwest Virginia and 53 acres were added to Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve on the Eastern Shore.
The state’s Natural Area Preserves System was created in the late 1980s and now includes more than 60 sites and more than 50,000 acres.
Jay Ford, the 2nd congressional district representative on the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation told the Mirror, “Preserving land is one of the best investments a community can make. In addition to the quality of life and cultural benefits, land conservation helps drive our economy by protecting water quality and supporting tourism efforts. The Magothy Bay property adds to the bounty of conserved lands found on the Southern Tip, which have unparalleled ecological value. The Virginia Land Conservation Board supports great projects throughout the Commonwealth but few rival the raw beauty of the Shore, but of course I’m a bit biased.”
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Bravo Zulu , Jay Ford . Your accomplishments will be appreciated by future generations .