Virginia Natural Area Preserve System

In 1986, the Virginia Natural Heritage Program was formed through a cooperative agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and The Nature Conservancy. In 1988 the program was placed under the control of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). To further the Natural Heritage Program's mission to conserve and manage sites identified as significant natural areas within the state, The Virginia Natural Area Preserve System was established in 1989.{{cite web |url=http://www.landscope.org/virginia/partners/heritage/ |title=Virginia DCR - Natural Heritage Program |publisher=NatureServe |website=LandScope America |access-date=December 12, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title10.1/chapter2/section10.1-214/ |title=§ 10.1-214. Virginia natural area preserves system established |work=Code of Virginia |date=1989 |access-date=December 12, 2016}}

The system's first preserve, North Landing River Natural Area Preserve, was established in 1990. By 2007, the preserve system included 50 protected areas.{{cite book |url=http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/document/napbook4web.pdf |title=Virginia's Natural Area Preserve System |publisher=Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |date=2016 |page=16 |access-date=December 15, 2016}}

The Virginia Natural Area Preserve System is managed as part of the Natural Heritage Program of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, with the purpose of protecting threatened or rare plants, animals, and natural communities.{{cite web |url=http://www.landscope.org/virginia/partners/heritage/Natural_Area_Preserves/ |title=Natural Area Preserves |publisher=NatureServe |website=LandScope America |access-date=December 12, 2016}}

To become a part of the system, a Natural Area Preserve must be accepted by the director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, although they may be initially dedicated by other departments and agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia.{{cite web |url=http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title10.1/chapter2/section10.1-213/ |title=§ 10.1-213. Dedication of natural area preserves |work=Code of Virginia |date=1989 |access-date=December 12, 2016}} Natural Area Preserves may be acquired by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or may continue to be owned by independent conservation organizations or other private landowners. Dedication itself is similar to a conservation easement, as it places certain legal strictures on future development of a given portion of land.

Most properties are owned by the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation. However, some are owned by local governments, universities, private citizens, and independent conservation organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy.

Many state-owned properties are freely open to the public for low-impact uses, such as hiking and birdwatching. However, some state-owned properties with rare and/or species and habitats require that arrangements be made with a state-employed land steward prior to visitation.

Privately held properties may restrict public access, although sometimes it can be arranged in coordination with a preserve's owner.{{cite web |url=http://www.bayjournal.com/article/preserve_walks_celebrate_va_natural_heritage_programs_30th_year |title=Preserve walks celebrate VA Natural Heritage Program's 30th year |newspaper=Bay Journal |date=October 6, 2016 |author=Middleton, Leslie |access-date=December 12, 2016}}

Access to any individual Virginia Natural Area Preserve may be temporarily restricted or closed when it is determined as necessary to protect sensitive plant and animal populations within the preserve, for seasonal migration habitat, or for habitat management and ecological restoration activities, such as prescribed burns. Visitor impactful activities, such as camping, hunting, fishing, timber cutting, campfires, vegetation harvesting, and motorized trail vehicles are typically forbidden at all preserves.

The following table lists Virginia's Natural Area Preserves {{As of|2025|January|lc=y}}. Those listed as being accessible "by arrangement" require prospective visitors to contact either state-employed land stewards, private property owners, or both.

• {{C|Virginia Natural Area Preserves|Virginia Natural Area Preserves topics}}
• Virginia Wildlife Management Areas
• List of Virginia state forests
• List of Virginia state parks
• {{C|Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation|Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation topics}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_area_preserves/index.shtml Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.gov: official Natural Area Preserve System website] — all current NAPS preserves.

{{Protected areas of Virginia}}

01

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Category:Environment of Virginia

Category:Protected areas of Virginia

Category:Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Category:Protected areas established in 1989

Category:1989 establishments in Virginia