In-Progress Land Protection

Boiling Springs Lake Preserve – Brunswick County, NC

This state-owned nature preserve protects diverse rare and endemic native plants, including carnivorous pitcher plants and Venus flytraps, and the endangered red cockaded woodpecker. Several parcels within the 6,000-acre nature preserve, ranging from less than one to over 12 acres, are still undeveloped. Acquiring these inholding parcels is crucial for effective and sustainable land management, including prescribed burns. FCF is working with the North American Sarracenia Conservancy and the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program to acquire these parcels from willing landowners.

98 acres – Wythe County, VA

The undeveloped tract of oak, white pine and hemlock forest adjoins Jefferson National Forest on one side and is surrounded by other conservation properties. It is mapped as a high priority for conservation by Conserve Virginia in the Natural Habitat & Ecosystem Diversity category, and by the Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan as a biodiversity resilience corridor. It is also identified as a Very High quality Ecological Core (C2) and as having Outstanding (5) forest conservation values, and is included in the Virginia Natural Land Network.

Funds needed: The asking price is $279,000

65 acres – Wise County, VA

Bordered by Jefferson National Forest on two sides and with a mountain creek running along the property boundary, this mountain property includes a mature oak-hickory forest at an elevation of 2,300 ft. It is included in the Virginia Natural Land Network as a critical core for ecological process flow and wildlife movement between other critical conservation lands. It is also mapped as a Very High quality Ecological Core (C2), as having Outstanding (5) forest conservation values, and as a critical conservation property by Conserve Virginia.

Funds needed: The asking price is $149,500

104 acres – Brunswick County, NC

This 104-acre marshland in the city of Navassa borders the Cape Fear River. It includes rare plant and animal species, outstanding natural communities, and unique biological communities. Sitting at just one to two feet above sea level, it is a Primary nursery habitat for freshwater and estuarine organisms, and is mapped as an Exceptional wetland.

Funds needed: The asking price is $300,000

1,307 acres – Smyth County, VA

This undeveloped hardwood forest consists of 1,307 acres bordering Jefferson National Forest on two sides. The property was slated to be developed as a residential mountain, part commercial and part agricultural development. With 1,000 feet of elevational change, it is a critical conservation property, mapped by Conserve Virginia as an Outstanding Ecological Core, and as having Outstanding Forest Values, and as a key Wildlife Biodiversity Resilience Corridor. The headwaters of Hungry Mother Creek traverse the property to Hungry Mother State Park to the west.

Funds needed: The asking price is $3,500,000

90 acres – Hyde County, NC

Tucked away in a cove of the Pugo River-Pamlico Sound estuary, this wetland adjoins state-owned conservation land on one side and sits across the Bay from Swan Quarter National Wildlife Refuge. At 1-ft above sea level, it is ranked the highest possible score (9-10, Maximum) by the NC Natural Heritage Program Biodiversity Wildlife & Habitat Assessment. It is also mapped as an Exceptional wetland, an Outstanding Natural Area, and includes rare and unique plants and animals and biological communities.

Funds needed: The asking price is $100,000