| Contact Information | Date |
|---|---|
| For Immediate Release Contact: Rob Suydam 804.328.3031 |
October 11, 2011 VDOF 11048 |
Three Families Conserve 1,600 Acres of Private Forestland Central Virginia;
Properties Are in Dinwiddie, Prince George, Sussex and Isle of Wight Counties
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is committed to slowing the loss of valuable forestland by providing assistance to landowners who wish to protect their family forestland with a conservation easement. To assist landowners with the development of a conservation easement, VDOF created a unique funding program called Tomorrow Woods that reimburses landowners with funding towards the easement’s up-front costs, such as attorney’s fees, appraisal and title insurance. VDOF has assisted landowners in Dinwiddie, Isle of Wight, Prince George and Sussex counties by recording the first Tomorrow Woods conservation easements resulting in the protection of more than 1,600 acres of forestland.
The Johnson Family
When landowners are contemplating a conservation easement and the perpetual protection it offers from development, it is most often a family decision. Such was the case with the members of the Family Tree, a Green Johnson Corporation, and their land located in Dinwiddie County. The shareholders of Family Tree are all family members, whose ownership goes back to the descendants of Phill and Mariah Bridgeforth Johnson and back to the late 19th century.
Philip Johnson, Family Tree CEO, said, “In 1879, Phill, together with his oldest son, purchased 30 acres of land and the homestead on which they had formerly been enslaved. Thus began our family's tie to the land. Although all of the shareholders are urban born and raised, we know through family history over the generations how the family used land acquisition and land management skills to fashion opportunity for a better quality of life. Now, together with our VDOF area forester and our consultant forester, we manage the land as a certified tree farm. By placing the 115-acre tree farm in a conservation easement, we keep the land as a natural resource for now and for future generations.”
The VDOF has been serving Virginia’s forest landowners for nearly 100 years, and over time has developed a high level of confidence and trust with local landowners. In this case, Dinwiddie County Area Forester Heather Dowling identified the Johnsons specifically as potentially having the need for the conservation services the Tomorrow Woods program offers.
Dowling said, “The Johnsons have a long family history on this property. They have been very proactive in seeking advice from natural resource professionals to protect these sites while managing their timber. I first met them through an online landowner course that was hosted by Virginia Tech. After this course, we met and developed goals, and I wrote a Stewardship Plan for their property. After a few years of successfully following their management plan, I nominated them as a Certified Stewardship Property. The Tomorrow Woods conservation easement gives the Johnsons another tool to manage, conserve and protect all of the resources on their property.”
Del. Rosalyn Dance, 63rd House District, said, “This is an excellent example of how state government and corporate America working together can preserve Virginia's forestry while assisting a small landowner preserve a family inheritance for future generations.“
Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, 16th Senate District, said, “I commend the Johnson family for participating in the Tomorrow Woods program. Their historic effort to preserve green space and create conservation easements on their tree farm complements the Commonwealth's commitment to protect the environment. I hope that others will soon follow in their lead.“
Not only does the Family Tree conservation easement represent the first Tomorrow Woods conservation easement to be recorded, but it also represents the first underserved landowner to donate a conservation easement to the VDOF.
The Forehand Family
Family sentiments were similar with Bob and Linda Forehand, who protected their land by developing a conservation easement on nearly 1,300 acres of prime forestland in Prince George and Sussex counties.
Mr. Forehand said, “The programs offer to help the private owners of forested properties, whether it be financial or expertise in the timber industry, and will allow us to manage our ‘Tree Farm’ in a manner to maximize our investment; create long-term income for our family, and assure a place to enjoy the outdoors for years to come. The Department of Forestry program allowed us to create potential ‘future’ home sites for our four children as well as divide the parcel to allow our children and grandchildren the opportunity to enjoy nature and experience the abundant wildlife on the property. Our family members are avid hunters, and the creation of wildlife food plots and trails to enhance the property are not only allowed but encouraged.”
The Tomorrow Woods program was first introduced by the VDOF last year in Southeast Virginia and is possible due, in part, by support from Dominion Virginia Power. Tomorrow Woods funding is available to landowners in the counties of Dinwiddie, Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry and Sussex as well as the City of Suffolk. One of the first things VDOF did was to notify each locality about the opportunities created by this program.
Forehand said, “We were advised by Ms. Sharon Williams, director of planning for Prince George County, about the Department of Forestry and the Tomorrow Woods program. I had mentioned to her about the possibility of placing some of our properties in an easement. The Family Woods property was originally purchased to develop certain portions and utilize the remainder as a ‘Tree Farm’ and for recreation. After discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the easement program with my wife, Linda, and our children, we decided an easement through the Department of Forestry was the most advantageous for us, and we would stop all development planned in these areas.”
Del. Roslyn Tyler, 75th House District, said, “The rate of losing Virginia's rural land has accelerated over the last 40 years. I am committed to support funding for the conservation of farms, forests, wildlife/game lands and scenic landscapes for the future generations of Virginians to enjoy. Bob and Linda Forehand have made a great choice by participating in the Tomorrow Woods Program offered by VDOF. Their 1300 acres will be protected and utilized by their families for years to come – just as they intended.”
Del. Riley E. Ingram, 62nd House District, said, “This is a tremendous effort in preserving our forests and helping make a difference for generations to come. I am very grateful for this legacy the Forehand family will be giving us.”
The Oliver Family
For Ray and Judy Oliver, the future generations were an important factor in the family’s discussion about how to protect their assets – especially their 217 acres of family land in Isle of Wight County.
Ray Oliver said, “In the last four to five years, knowing we would be inheriting the land soon after the forest was clear cut, Judy and I started educating ourselves about tree farming by attending every seminar and conference the VDOF put on. It was there that we learned about conservation easements and good forest management practices. We contacted our local VDOF Forester, Brian Alexander, who helped us set up our forest stewardship management plan. We chose to do a conservation easement because we wanted to protect the forest and land for our children and grandchildren so they will have a place to enjoy the forest and wildlife. We want to preserve and protect the wildlife, the beauty and the work I’m doing in planting longleaf and loblolly pines. Our land already had housing surrounding it on three sides – it was important that we act now.”
Del. William Barlow, 64th House district, said, “As Virginians, we all appreciate so much what the Olivers are doing, because their action results in the improvement of the quality of life of not only those of us living today but future generations as well.”
The goal of the Tomorrow Woods program is to conserve, establish and enhance forests, with a focus on productive, private working forests. According to Forest Conservation Specialist Rob Suydam who assisted these landowners in developing their conservation easements, “VDOF's goal is to work with landowners to protect large blocks of working forests by keeping them intact and unfragmented, while protecting what is often a family’s greatest heirloom, their land. These first Tomorrow Woods easements have done just that. In addition, the protection of nearly 1,600 acres of forest in the first year of this program is a good indication of what can be accomplished with support from partners like Dominion Virginia Power.”
Often, forest converted to other uses, such as residential development, is the result of choices made by individual landowners, who own nearly 80 percent of the forestland in Virginia. VDOF will continue to offer the Tomorrow Woods program until 2014 – or until the funding runs out – as a viable option for landowners who wish to permanently protect their land with a conservation easement.
For more information about the Tomorrow Woods land conservation program, please contact Rob Suydam at 804.328.3031.
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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 forestland 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.
