The Center for Biodiversity At Joseph Pines Preserve
Meadowview proposes the creation of an educational center for biodiversity supporting the conservation, protection, and restoration of the endangered longleaf pine/pitcher plant ecosystem in Virginia. The education center will train students and the general public about the need and value of rare plant and animal conservation, support ongoing scientific research at the Joseph Pines Preserve, and demonstrate how a sustainable lifestyle can support these efforts. This type of endeavor and its goals are certainly singular in Virginia if not the entire United States. This program will serve as a template for other such organizations sharing our vision. The preserve will provide important air and water quality benefits while at the same time maintaining or enhancing biological diversity. Through a series of property acquisitions, a preserve and education center totaling almost 2000 acres will provide one of the largest and best managed examples of its type in a multi-state area. This property represents the northern limit of the known range of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Habitat restoration includes mechanical clearing, chemical site treatments, prescribed fire, and controlled reintroductions of at least 18 indigenous rare plant taxa (including one federally endangered species). Habitat is also provided for one federally endangered bird species (red-cockaded woodpecker), one state threatened bird species (Bachmans sparrow), and one endangered fish species (black-banded sunfish).
Purpose and objectives:
- To provide an education and biodiversity center to educate the public about rare plant conservation and provide the facilities to enable regional habitat restoration.
- To capture the entire native Virginia longleaf pine germplasm.
- To develop a native Virginia longleaf pine seed orchard for on-site and regional restoration efforts.
- To provide safe harbor and habitat for a minimum of 18 rare plant and 3 animal taxa as part of an integrated longleaf pine-pitcher plant ecosystem restoration.
- To restore uplands and sphagnous seeps utilizing a combination of chemical and mechanical methods combined with prescribed burning.
- To continue to enlarge the preserve by acquiring additional land and connect with both Cherry Orchard Preserve and DGIF's Game Lake forming a total managed longleaf pine/pitcher plant ecosystem preserve and wildlife corridor of over 2000 acres.
- To provide an outside laboratory for research on various aspects of the longleaf pine/pitcher plant ecosystem.
- To help meet Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's goal of conserving 400,000 acres by January 2014
- To provide optimal conditions for recreational hunting by creating and maintaining habitat conducive to deer, turkey, quail, rabbit and other game animals.
- To provide opportunities for primitive camping, hiking,
Read entire Joseph Pines Preserve 2013 Prospectus PDF.
