Lands that should be protected should benefit the public and possess unique and significant natural, historic, recreational, scenic and cultural resources. This includes:

• recreational and park lands
• lands with rare, threatened, or endangered species, fish and wildlife habitat
• agricultural and forestal lands
• historic areas
• open space land

There are many traits that make particular properties special and worthy of protection. Here are a few such characteristics.

• river corridors
• viewsheds
• public access points
• blueways and greenways
• a need identified in the Virginia Outdoors Plan
• support of a local or regional plan
• adjacent to a Virginia Scenic River, Road or Byway
  
• adjacent to parks
  
• adjacent to wildlife management areas
  
• a need identified in the Virginia Natural Heritage Plan
  
• unique species
  
• biodiversiity
  
• listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register
  
• historic district
  
• prime and important soils and farmland
  
• wetlands
  
• contiguous forest parcels
  
• timber value
  
• unique geological features
  
• cultural geography
  
• relationship to development patterns and land use planning