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CHARLESTON -- Thirty-eight thousand acres of West Virginia forestland will remain permanently protected under what the West Virginia Land Trust is calling the largest private conservation project in state history.
The Land Trust has finalized five conservation easements covering land in Monroe, Summers and Fayette counties, with additional acreage in Nicholas and Greenbrier counties. The easements require the land to remain forested, allow sustainable timber management and protect 81 miles of streams and rivers.
“This project is extraordinary not only because of its size, but because of the lasting benefits it creates for West Virginians,” said Ashton Berdine, West Virginia state director for The Conservation Fund. “These easements protect drinking water, strengthen outdoor recreation economies, sustain working forests and preserve places that communities have valued for generations.”
The project began in June 2025, when Aurora Sustainable Lands approached The Conservation Fund about conserving thousands of acres of privately owned forestland through permanent easements. The Conservation Fund turned to the West Virginia Land Trust to complete the deal.
The five easements include forestland bordering Back Creek in Monroe County, land surrounding Keeney Knob in Summers County and three easements in Fayette County, including acreage in Nicholas and Greenbrier counties. The Fayette County land adjoins New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and could offer expanded opportunities for recreation, hunting, fishing, hiking and rock climbing, particularly along the Meadow River corridor.
The protected streams and rivers fall within the Greenbrier and New River watersheds, including designated source-water protection areas. Keeping the forests intact can help filter sediment and pollutants, reduce water treatment and stormwater management costs and reduce flooding risks.
The land also provides habitat for rare and federally protected species, including Virginia spiraea, endangered bats and mussels. The project preserves habitat for eight globally rare plant species, two dozen plant species rare to West Virginia and a dozen rare animal species.
The easements also allow sustainable timber harvesting to continue, supporting forestry jobs and rural economies while protecting large, contiguous tracts from development. Individual parcels exceed 4,000 acres, with connected groupings topping 10,000 acres, according to the Land Trust.
“These forests are more than just individual parcels on a map -- they are vast, connected landscapes of mountains, valleys, streams and wildlife habitat,” said Amy Cimarolli, the Land Trust’s land protection program director.
Aaron Paul, chief commercial officer at Aurora Sustainable Lands, said the deal sets a new bar for conservation work in the state.
“Thanks to the collaboration of the West Virginia Land Trust, The Conservation Fund and local partners, 38,000 acres of unique working forests are now permanently protected,” Paul said. “Aurora is proud to have helped make this happen and looks forward to continuing this work together.”