1. Virginia Outdoors Foundation Encouraging the protection of open space in Virginia …

2. Established in 1966 by the General Assembly Five offices statewide Richmond Charlottesville Roanoke Staunton Aldie (Loudoun County) Primary protection tool is the Open Space Easement

3. Lands under VOF protection Easements Over 250,000 + acres under VOF easement (36,586 acres last year) Over 1,400 separate easements Lands Owned by VOF 3,500 acres Primarily in Bull Run Mountains

8. Protection Tools Comprehensive Plan Zoning Designation of special Districts (i.e. Historic, Agriculture/Forestal) Statewide and local initiatives Chesapeake Bay Protection Area Scenic River program Purchase fee title (State Parks, Natural Areas, etc) Easements

9. Conservation / Open Space Easement A perpetual legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently protects land while the landowner continues to own it.

10. Protected Lands Nationwide 6,225,225 acres of land protected 1 +226% from 1.9 million acres in 1990 2,600,000 is protected thru easements 1 +475% from 450,000 acres in 1990 1 2000 data from LTA Census Survey

11. Land has a “Bundle of Rights” Right to build structures Commercial or industrial uses Sell, trade, or gift to other (all or part) Farm, grow timber Extract water, minerals, gas, oil Use in any means allowable by law

12. Conservation easement serves to limit or restrict the bundle of rights

13. Easement Terms Trash, refuse, junk No billboards or signs Division of property (number of parcels)

14. Easement Terms Management of forest resources Commercial harvest Preservation of habitat Buildings and structures Residential Agricultural Building envelopes/citing

15. Easement Terms Commercial activity limited to agriculture and silviculture Surface mining rights Provision for inspection of property

16. Protection of sensitive natural features (waterways, coastal habitats, scenic views, ridge tops, rare species)

17. Hazard Mitigation Can protect areas of population concentration through buffering coastal storms, coastal erosion, flooding, storm surge - while providing open space, protecting ecologically sensitive areas Utilize open space as green infrastructure to protect building infrastructure

18. Funding Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Preservation Trust Fund Forest Legacy Farm and Ranch Protection Program FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program ??

19. www.virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.org ltrew@vofonline.org

20. Virginia Outdoors Foundation Encouraging the protection of open space in Virginia …