6pt ; Marvin Moriarty, northeast regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that with the recent purchase of a conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement for Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the National Wildlife Refuge System now protects a half million acres of land in the 13-state Northeast Region. He made the announcement at an event at the Wellford Farms property in Warsaw, Va., attended by U.S. Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, representatives of national and regional conservation organizations, and state and federal officials.
6pt ; "The value of national wildlife refuges to migratory birds, endangered species, and other native wildlife cannot be overstated. The recently confirmed sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker at Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas is a poignant reminder of the importance of conserving public lands where wildlife comes first," said William Hartwig, chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
6pt ; With the addition of the Wellford Farms property, the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1996, now protects more than 7,300 acres of wetlands and other habitat for waterfowl, bald eagles and other migratory birds along the river and its tributaries. According to Refuge Manager Joe McCauley, the Service hopes to ultimately acquire a total of 20,000 acres of land from willing sellers in the river valley.
6pt ; "Since the founding of Virginia, our citizens have recognized that the Rappahannock River is a very special place, and for generations the river has been the lifeblood of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula," said Congresswoman Davis. "We must continue to work together with partnerships to protect these natural habitats."
6pt ; " align=left>In places like the Rappahannock River valley, purchasing easements is an economical way of protecting important wildlife habitats while allowing landowners to retain property rights for certain activities such as farming, hunting and fishing, according to Moriarty.
6pt ; " align=left>"Conservation easements are one of the most powerful and effective tools we have for protecting family farms and natural areas in Virginia," said Michael Lipford, Virginia executive director of The Nature Conservancy. "By using conservation easements, we put the power to help protect the lands we all cherish in the hands of private landowners -- those who can make one of the most significant impacts on the health of our water, land and air."
6pt ; " align=left>"The Trust for Public Land has assisted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in protecting critical lands and resources throughout the country," said Debi Osborne, senior project manager for TPL. "Over the past eight years, TPL has protected more than 4,300 acres at the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge by putting together creative partnerships and working closely with Virginias Congressional delegation. This includes the acquisition that started the refuge, the Tayloe property."
6pt ; " align=left>"Americas wildlife refuges provide a home for endangered species, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, and a living educational experience," said The Conservation Funds Vice President Nick Dilks. "Todays announcement is a magnificent example of the extraordinary results that can be achieved when public and private partners join forces to promote a balanced approach to conservation. On behalf of The Conservation Fund, I commend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its abiding commitment to wildlife and wild places that has resulted in more than a century of successful conservation."
6pt ; " align=left>"The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is proud to have been a partner in the establishment and growth of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge and is very pleased to help celebrate this milestone. The refuges ongoing work to protect habitat and water quality benefits the Rappahannock River, the Chesapeake Bay and the citizens of Virginia," said Ann Jennings, executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Virginia.
6pt ; " align=left>"The success of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in protecting over 500,000 acres of open space and habitat in the Northeast Region is a remarkable achievement," said W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr., Secretary of Natural Resources for Virginia. "When the successful land protection efforts of other federal agencies, state agencies and non-profit organizations are added to the milestone we celebrate today, there is clearly room for optimism as we continue to guarantee outdoor opportunities for generations yet unborn."
6pt " align=left>National wildlife refuges in Virginia -- Chincoteague, Great Dismal Swamp, Back Bay, and refuges along the states Eastern Shore and in the Rappahannock, Potomac, and James river valleys -- make up nearly 30 percent, or 135,000 acres, of the half million acres region-wide.
6pt " align=left>In the Northeast Region, 71 national wildlife refuges protect important fish and wildlife habitats from the northern hardwood forests of Maine to the Great Dismal Swamp in southern Virginia. More than 6 million people visit these refuges each year to watch wildlife, hunt, fish, participate in environmental programs or simply enjoy the outdoors.
6pt " align=left>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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Visit the following web sites for more information:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region -- http://northeast.fws.gov
The Nature Conservancy -- http://www.nature.org
The Trust for Public Land -- http://www.tpl.org
The Conservation Fund -- http://www.conservationfund.org
Chesapeake Bay Foundation -- http://www.cbf.org
Virginias Department of Natural Resources -- http://www.naturalresources.virginia.gov
