Contact Information	Date
For Immediate Release Contact: Mike Santucci 434.220.9182	Sept. 1, 2009 VDOF 09027

VDOF Records First Easement in Nelson County

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) recorded its first conservation easement in Nelson County on August 28, 2009. Mitch and Yvette White donated to the VDOF a working forest easement protecting the 112-acre Crestvue Farm, just east of Arrington. A part of the well-known Fortune family landholdings, the property may never be divided in the future, 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.

Crestvue Farm is nearly 90 percent forested and contributes to a large unfragmented forested acreage in the area. Much of the property is visible from Variety Mills Road, which is a part of the Sleeping Giant Loop of Virginia’s Birding and Wildlife Trail. Additionally, a number of streams, which are tributaries to Lake Nelson, originate on and flow through the property; the forested nature of the property helps protect the water quality and aquatic habitat of Lake Nelson.

“Mitch and I feel very fortunate to own Crestvue Farm and 105-year-old Fortune house,” said Yvette White. “The beautiful acreage is motive enough to protect the property, but the fact the Fortune family was able to keep it intact for over 100 years was another reason. It would be a shame to lose the integrity of the property after all this time.

“After attending a meeting in Nelson County by the Central Virginia Land Conservancy, we felt that the VDOF was the organization and had the people who could help us achieve our goal for Crestvue. We were correct; it has been a wonderful experience. Our goal now is what it has always been, for our generation and future generations to be able to enjoy Crestvue Farm as families have been doing for over a century.”

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, “Although Nelson County remains almost 80 percent forested, 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 that all of us depend on. This continues to be one of the most significant threats to the forest resource in Virginia.
“We are very appreciative of the Whites’ donation and their desire to sustain the natural resource base in perpetuity,” Santucci said. “They have a solid history of active and planned forest management, and a well-established working relationship with the VDOF. We are thankful for the opportunity to contribute to their conservation goals.”
The Crestvue Farm easement was facilitated by the Central Virginia Land Conservancy (CvaLC), a non-profit conservation organization that promotes the stewardship and conservation of Central Virginia’s forests, farmlands, waters and other natural and historic resources.

Wendy Kendrick of the CVaLC said, “This was the first opportunity for CVaLC to work with the VDOF on an easement. It was a pleasure working with the Whites and the VDOF staff on this project. We are happy that the CVaLC could play a role in protecting this property and look forward to many more such opportunities.”

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.

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) 220-9182, 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.

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