The Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve was recently inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN). The Preserve is the 14th Virginia forest to be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network and the second in Prince William County.
OGFN connects people with nature by creating a national network of protected, mature, publicly accessible, native forests. The network intends to preserve at least one forest in every county in the U.S. that can sustain a forest. Since it was founded in 2012, OGFN has grown to include 315 forests across 40 states. OGFN also recognizes exceptional forest advocates, educates about the extraordinary ecological benefits of old-growth forests, and speaks out regarding immediate threats to specific ancient forests. Learn more at http://www.oldgrowthforest.net.
VOF began acquiring land that now makes up the 2,500-acre Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve in 1979. The Preserve is primarily forested with deciduous trees and can be accessed by nearly seven miles of easy to moderate trails in the southern section, Friday to Sunday, year-round for the intrepid wildlife watcher to explore. The Preserve contains ten different plant community types and hosts several regionally uncommon and threatened plant and animal species, most of which are protected by controlled, facilitated access. In addition to biodiversity, this land holding permanently protects dozens of regionally important cultural history sites that tell the story of the Preserve’s diversely peopled past.
In 2002, the Preserve, representing Virginia’s easternmost mountains was dedicated by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation as a natural area preserve to protect the unique ecosystems found here.
Joe Villari noted, “The Preserve’s oldest trees stood witness to this mountains’ unique folk history. The remnants of old growth forest here survived many human generations and land use changes. These forest sentinels connect our community to this unique past and allude to what the greater forested landscape will look like in another hundred years.”
Brian Kane, Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager with the Old-Growth Forest Network, said, “The importance of preserving these rare forests cannot be overemphasized, particularly here in northern Virginia. The Preserve stores carbon, provides wildlife habitat and allows Virginians and others to hike in a culturally significant forest within their community. This location seems worlds away from the pace of the region, and its forest refreshes one’s soul after walking among its amazing trees.”
