保育與休閒部 保育。保護。享受。
保育與休閒部 
媒體諮詢：請聯繫戴夫·諾德克，dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov，804-786-5053.
即時發布
日期：28 月 2020
聯繫人：朱莉·布坎南，高級公共關係和市場專家，804-786-2292，julie.buchanan@dcr.virginia.gov
弗吉尼亞州為深流池塘自然區保護區增加了 136 英畝
（編輯：點擊此鏈接下載圖像。照片說明：弗吉尼亞州羅金漢縣的深潤池塘自然區保護區的謝南多亞谷沉洞池。攝於弗吉尼亞州自然遺產計劃弗吉尼亞州保育和康樂部加里 ·P· 弗萊明。)
里士滿 — 在羅金漢縣的國有 Deep Run Ponds 自然區保護區添加土地將允許持續保護和管理弗吉尼亞州一些最稀有的生態系統。
弗吉尼亞州保育和康樂部已收購了兩個總面積為 136 英畝的土地，這些地區將作為保護區的重要補充項目，該保護區包含全球稀有的謝南多亞谷沉洞池塘。這些池塘的特徵是一年四季水平波動，可以支持一系列非凡的植物和動物，其中一些是稀有、受威脅或瀕危的植物和動物。
DCR 主任 Clyde Cristman 表示：“這些地塊現在受到永久保護，DCR 自然遺產工作人員將開展修復活動，以造福那裡的資源。”「這些土地是弗吉尼亞州藍嶺山脈獨特棲息地和森林的最佳典範，DCR 很榮幸將它們納入弗吉尼亞自然保護區系統。」
新獲得的地區由 ConserveVirginia 識別，這是一種數據驅動的模型，用於優先處理聯邦各地的土地保護決策。該項目符合兩個 ConservveVirginia 類別：自然棲息地和生態系統多樣性以及受保護的景觀恢復力。
In addition to helping protect the preserve’s sensitive areas, the new tracts are habitat for migratory songbirds and lie within the Upper Blue Ridge Mountains Important Bird Area, a National Audubon Society designation. The additions expand the preserve to 906 acres.
When staff and operations support are available, DCR plans to offer public access at the preserve.
“Virginia’s natural areas once surrounded us, but now we surround them,” said Jason Bulluck, director of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at DCR. “Protecting these key additions to Deep Run Ponds Natural Area Preserve expands state and federal public lands with some of the best remaining examples of Virginia’s natural communities. In addition, protection of large ecological core areas like this help to ensure that plant and animal species are resilient to climate change and other changes to their habitats.”
The acquisitions were made possible with funds from the DuPont Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration settlement. The Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are trustees of the funds.
“We are thrilled to help our state partners expand their natural area preserve,” said Wendi Weber, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service northeast regional director. “To date, we’ve used the DuPont settlement funds to conserve more than 1,000 acres of land within the South Fork Shenandoah watershed, helping ensure space for our native wildlife and fantastic recreational opportunities.”
The Virginia Natural Area Preserve System was established in 1989 to protect the state’s rare plants, animals and natural communities. The system is made up of 63 preserves covering 57,656 acres. DCR owns most of the preserves, but several are owned by The Nature Conservancy, other nonprofits, universities or private individuals. Staff with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at DCR manage these lands primarily to retain rare species habitat, but also to provide education, research and passive recreational opportunities.
Virginians may support the Virginia Natural Area Preserve System by making a contribution to the Natural Area Preservation Fund. Checks may be made out to “Natural Area Preservation Fund” and mailed to: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, 600 E. Main St., 24th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219.
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