Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia’s natural lands protect water and air quality, support tourism and outdoor recreation, contain a rich biological diversity and array of wildlife corridors, enhance economic development and increase our fiscal and human health. Outdoor recreation generates $13.6 billion in consumer spending and $923 million in state and local tax revenues. The 2017 Virginia Outdoors Demand Survey found that the most popular activity is visiting natural areas. Large diverse landscapes provide a buffer against climate change and sea-level rise and support exemplary habitats and species.
The Natural Habitat & Ecosystem Diversity category has been developed by working with five key data resource areas. The Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment identifies large patches commonly referred to as Cores of forests, marshes, dunes and beaches with at least 100 acres of continuous interior natural habitat. The cores are ranked based upon many variables including environmental diversity, species diversity, water quality benefits and habitats. The Outstanding category (C1) was used in the strategy, excluding the four lower ranked categories. Landscape Corridors of natural land cover were included connecting C1 Cores to maintain connectivity to allow species movement between larger natural land patches, elevations, latitudes and from ocean to inland.
Resilient and Connected Landscapes represent a map developed by The Nature Conservancy and its partners highlighting areas that represent climate resilient sites and species movement areas (corridors) across Virginia that include key habitats and the space for nature to adapt and change in the face of a changing climate. Natural Heritage Conservation Sites are areas of the landscape that contain Virginia’s and the planet’s rarest aquatic and terrestrial natural communities and plant and animal species. This set includes cave and karst habitats, terrestrial sites and aquatic systems, and only the top ranked sites have been included. Brook Trout Streams identified by the VA Department of Wildlife Resources are streams supporting native brook trout that are in a natural state representing high ecological integrity. The resource areas in the Natural Habitat & Ecosystem Diversity Category represent a total of 4,202,294 acres.
| TNC Resilient Landscapes | YES/NO - high priority TNC Resilient and Connected Landscapes are included |
| VaNLA Corridors | YES/NO - high priority ConservationVision Landscape Corridors are included |
| VaNLA Cores | YES/NO - high priority ConservationVision Ecological Cores are included |
| NH Conservation Site | YES/NO - high priority Natural Heritage Conservation Sites are included |
| Native Brook Trout | YES/NO - high priority native brook trout streams are included |
| Map Date | Map creation date |
| Deed Requirement | Required protections to meet ConserveVirginia Standards |
Help Documents
How to use the Natural Heritage Data Explorer for interactive versions of all ConserveVirginia maps.
View a Demonstration Video
How to use interactive ConserveVirginia maps on the Virginia Natural Heritage Data Explorer.
