Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Chris Ludwig at Difficult Creek Natural Area Preserve.On hot July day, Chris Ludwig was stuck in the office. Even so, he was in a great mood.
To an avid birder who loves rare plants, any day inside is poorly spent, but on this day, Ludwig’s mood was great because he’d had his first good night’s sleep since returning from Borneo earlier in the week – jet lag. Ludwig and his wife travel annually to far-flung places with vast biodiversity and immerse themselves in it. And if you are lucky enough to be in the office within a few weeks of his return from such a trip, you’ll be treated to a lunch-hour presentation that draws wide eyes, oohs and ahhs.
Ludwig has been with DCR’s Natural Heritage Program almost since it began and will celebrate his 30th anniversary next year. In fact, he’s worked under eight governors. He began his Virginia career as a field botanist and became the chief biologist in 1996, but you could say his career began when at 12 he fell in love with birding. This early love laid the groundwork for his life’s work - the protection and conservation of Virginia’s biodiversity. On any given day, he might consult with NH resource protection staff and stewardship staff or work on raising the money on which much of his team relies. Years of knowledge and experience enable him to easily field tough questions and keep the NH team agile and ready for action.
Ludwig’s passion for conservation is apparent when he discusses Virginia’s Natural Area Preserve (NAP) System and how several NAPs came to be. “It’s so rewarding. I’ve seen a spot on an aerial photograph, and we’ve conducted an inventory, entered the data and actually bought those areas for Natural Area Preserves – because I saw a spot on a photo,” beams Ludwig.
When asked which NAP is his favorite, much like a proud father he said, “They’re all my favorites.” With a little prodding, he yields and says that even in his spare time, he’d spend time at Difficult Creek NAP. “It doesn’t look like much if you aren’t into botany. It looks like a bunch of weeds and a couple of pine plantations, but it is actually chock full of fascinating plants, really amazing wonders – a diversity unheard of in that region.”
Ludwig lives in Hanover County where he has painstakingly created a 10-acre sanctuary of native species. He enjoys evenings by playing guitar and bass. Indeed, he’s a member of two jazz ensembles.
“The resolve of this department in its conservation mission has been unwavering,” said Ludwig, adding, “Watching the evolution of the department has been extremely rewarding.”
