Learn more about the new Heirs’ Property Act in Virginia and what it means for families who share ownership of land or have inherited land without a will.
Conservation and Rural Programs
View publications that relate to land conservation and rural programs.

2020 Land Conservation Update
This semi-annual publication of The Piedmont Environmental Council highlights some of the conservation opportunities that are available to local landowners. This edition also includes 2019 Piedmont land conservation totals, a feature on a family farm that was conserved, and an update from PEC’s director of land conservation, Mike Kane.
2019 Land Conservation Update
This semi-annual publication highlights some of the conservation opportunities that are available to landowners. This edition also includes 2018 Piedmont land conservation totals, a profile of a family farm that was recently conserved, and an update from PEC’s director of land conservation, Mike Kane. View the PDF >>
2018 Land Conservation Update
This semi-annual publication highlights some of the conservation opportunities that are available to landowners. This edition also includes 2017 Piedmont land conservation totals, upcoming landowner workshop details and information about a recent best management practice installation. View the PDF >>

For the Love of the Land: 100 Conservation Stories From Across Virginia
For the Love of the Land features 100 conservation success stories from across Virginia, representing every legislative district—a sampling from among thousands of places in the Commonwealth that are now protected forever. At a time when many of the special places in Virginia could easily be lost, these stories remind us why land conservation is so important.
2013 Land Conservation Update
This annual publication highlights some of the new opportunities that are available to land owners this year. Articles include Expanded Land Conservation Incentives in 2013, PEC's Sustainable Habitat Program, and Continuing a Legacy of Conservation.

The Economic Benefits of Natural Goods and Services
Using a value transfer approach, this study leverages the results of pre-existing studies to quantify the estimated annual contribution of nine such natural services – water quality, water supply, pollination, recreation, forest products, farm products, disturbance prevention, habitat, and carbon sequestration – to be approximately $21.8 billion.

Managing Land in the Piedmont for the Benefit of Birds & Other Wildlife
Interested in managing your property or backyard for wildlife, but not sure where to start? Our guide, Managing Land in the Piedmont of Virginia for the Benefit of Birds and Other Wildlife, introduces landowners to land management options that should be considered for a variety of habitat types.
Field Guide to Common Wetland Plants of Virginia’s Piedmont
Use this field guide to learn about common wetland plants like ferns, grasses, shrubs, and trees of the Piedmont region and explore how wetlands can be protected, mitigated, and restored.