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Southern Forests Conservation Project
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The Nature Conservancy and International Paper have undertaken a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect ecologically important forests, rivers and streams in 10 southern states. The Nature Conservancy will acquire more than 218,000 acres in the largest private land conservation project in the history of the southern United States. Partners include state governments, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies and timber investment entities.
Total Protected Area in Virginia: 20,830 acres
- Big Woods: 4,900 acres
- Nottoway River: 6,930 acres
- Blackwater River: 4,764 acres
- Meherrin River (VA): 4,236 acres
- Meherrin River (NC): 3,357 acres
River and Stream Miles Protected
Creates opportunities for the protection of up to 60 miles of stream and river frontage in Nottoway, Blackwater and Meherrin watersheds.
Representative Species
- Red-cockaded woodpecker
- Neotropical songbirds
- Roanoke logperch
- Migratory fish
- Freshwater mussels
Project Partners
- The Nature Conservancy
- International Paper
Virginia Forests
In Virginia, the Southern Forests Conservation project encompasses more than 20,000 acres, including the Conservancy's acquisition of 4,900 acres bordering its Piney Grove Preserve. Piney Grove is home to the northernmost population of the red-cockaded woodpecker, Virginia's rarest bird. Private investors will acquire and hold some 15,930 acres along the Nottoway, Meherrin and Blackwater rivers, and the Conservancy will retain a right of first negotiation on this property.
The Southern Forests Conservation project helps protect all three river systems, including habitat for the endangered Roanoke logperch, imperiled freshwater mussels and migratory fish such as herring and shad.
Southern Rivers: Nottoway, Meherrin and Blackwater
The Nottoway, Meherrin and Blackwater rivers are the lifeblood of the 4,000-square-mile Southern Rivers conservation area, a top priority for the Conservancy. This predominately rural and forested area, considered the “pine belt” of Virginia, contains expansive swamps harboring centuries-old cypress trees and the northernmost examples of longleaf pine savannas. It supports an exceptional breadth of biological diversity with over 100 rare plants, animals and natural communities, including the northern-most occurrence of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker at the Conservancy’s 2,700-acre Piney Grove Preserve.
The scenic Nottoway River, which runs for a length of roughly 130 miles, begins in Nottoway County and at its confluence with the Blackwater River forms the Chowan River at the North Carolina state line. The great abundance of fish and mussels in this river is exceptional for the Atlantic Slope, making the Nottoway watershed of very high conservation value. The most viable known population of the endangered Roanoke logperch occurs in the Nottoway.
The Blackwater River, a favorite among paddlers, is a classic example of a slow-moving coastal river system flowing through remote, deep swamp forests. It stretches for 105 miles from its headwaters south of Petersburg to the North Carolina state line, where it meets the Nottoway. The Meherrin River basin has its headwaters in the Piedmont of Lunenburg County and flows southeast into the coastal plain of North Carolina, eventually meeting the Chowan River east of Murfreesboro, NC. Like the Nottoway, the Meherrin River supports an exceptional number of fish and mussels. The predominance of forestland is one of the key reasons these waterways remain healthy and intact relative to other aquatic systems.
For More Information
The Nature Conservancy in Virginia
Working with partners, local communities, and people like you, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 220,000 acres of critical natural habitat in Virginia.
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