| Contact Information | Date |
|---|---|
| For Immediate Release Contact: Mike Santucci 434.977.5193 |
Apr. 9, 2009 VDOF 09016 |
VDOF Records First Easement in Highland County
Highland County, known for its pristine scenic beauty, is blessed with abundant and vital forest lands. This forest resource, which covers 70 percent of the county’s land area, provides innumerable benefits that enhance residents’ lives and visitors’ experiences. These benefits include wildlife habitat, clean air and water, extraordinary outdoor recreational opportunities, a multitude of timber products that contribute significantly to the local and state economy, and the scenic vistas that make the area a special place to live and visit.
In an effort to help protect this important resource, the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) recorded its first conservation easement in Highland County on March 25, 2009. Mark K. Edmondson granted to the VDOF a working forest easement protecting more than 100 acres along Davis Run southwest of McDowell, Va. The easement merges four tax parcels into a single property that limits future development. The property may never be divided, conserving a large block of forest land in perpetuity.
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a non-profit conservation organization that protects the conservation values of a property. Most easements place permanent limits on future development to protect these values. The landowner continues to own, use and control the land.
The Edmondson tract is nearly two-thirds forested and contributes to a large unfragmented acreage in the area. Much of the property is visible from Davis Run Road, contributing to the scenic viewshed of the McDowell area. A portion of Davis Run, a native brook trout stream and major tributary of the Bullpasture River, flows through the property.
“I am very happy that the Virginia Department of Forestry has cooperated with me in preserving my property in Highland County through its conservation easement program,” said Mark Edmondson. “This is something that has been a goal of mine and achieving it was due mostly to the cooperation of dedicated personnel at the Virginia Department of Forestry. In particular, I am impressed with the Department's high standards of quality and high degree of professionalism during the easement development process. Perhaps most important was the involvement of dedicated professionals, such as Mike Santucci, working with me at the personal level. This was key for me, as Mike not only described to me the role of the Forestry Department in the easement process, but how the VDOF and the landowner work together after the deed is recorded.”
Large blocks of forest land are critical to sustainable forest management, interconnected wildlife habitat, and the flow of other ecosystem services, such as improving water and air quality and carbon sequestration. Unbroken forests also enhance the overall quality of life of the local residents.
Mike Santucci, VDOF forest conservation specialist, said, “Virginia is losing more than 27,000 acres of forest land annually to conversion, and that rate is increasing. Loss of forested acres and the fragmentation of the remaining acres reduce the potential of the forest to provide the economic, social and ecological benefits on which we depend. This continues to be one of the most significant threats to the forest resource in Virginia.
“We are very appreciative of Mr. Edmondson’s donation and his desire to sustain the natural resource base in perpetuity,” Santucci said. “He has a longstanding working relationship with the VDOF, and has been actively improving the forest resources and wildlife habitat through planned management. We are thankful for the opportunity to contribute not only to his conservation goals, but also to those efforts of Highland County.”
The Edmondson easement was facilitated by Conservation Partners LLC, a land conservation easement consulting and credit brokerage firm based in Lexington, Va. Bill Funk, easement specialist for Conservation Partners, said, “It was a real pleasure to get to know Mark and his wonderful mountain property as we helped facilitate his easement donation. Mark has carefully managed his property over the years to maximize its wildlife habitat and timber production, and his love of the land is plainly apparent. Working with Mike Santucci and VDOF to secure this easement was a pleasant experience, and I am delighted to be able to count VDOF as another capable partner for land conservation in the Alleghenies. On behalf of Conservation Partners I want to congratulate Mark for preserving this lovely spot for future generations.
With nearly 16 million acres of forest land and more than 144,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products nd related industries, Virginia forests provide more than $27.5 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.
The VDOF conservation easement program is the only one in the state that focuses solely on protecting working forests. To be considered, a property must be at least 50 acres in size; 75 percent forested, and the landowner must be willing to have a forest stewardship management plan prepared. Landowners who want to ensure that their land will be forever maintained as forest may consider a VDOF easement.
For additional information on the VDOF conservation easement program, contact Mike Santucci, forest conservation specialist, at 434.977.5193, or visit the VDOF Web site.
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The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.
With nearly 16 million acres of forest land and more than 144,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products and related industries, Virginia forests provide more than $27.5 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.
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