Press Releases
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![]() | Virginia’s 4 PM Burning Law Starts Tomorrow | The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and fire departments throughout Virginia are reminding the public about the 4 p.m. burn ban, which begins Tuesday, February 15. The law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. if the fire is in or within 300 feet of woodlands, brush, or fields with dry grass and other flammable materials. | 02/14/2022 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | 4pm-burning-law burning wildfire-prevention | |
![]() | Forest Legacy Expands Virginia Pineland Conservation Around Big Woods State Forest | Conservation of longleaf pine, endangered woodpeckers, and the Commonwealth’s managed forests recently received a boost from the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program (FLP), with the acquisition of more than 640 acres in Sussex County. Through a partnership between the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and The Nature Conservancy (a private, non-profit conservation organization), the Nottoway Pinelands FLP project expands land holdings critical to longleaf pine forest and red-cockaded woodpecker recovery in Virginia. | 01/31/2022 | News Releases | View | forestland-conservation state-forests | big-woods-sf forest-legacy-program | |
![]() | New Study Shows Threats and Opportunities for Virginia’s Coastal Forests | The Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) and the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) released a joint study of the benefits and threats facing Virginia’s coastal forests, “Resilient Coastal Forests of Virginia, Overcoming Challenges and Implementing Strategies for a Better Future.” Funded by the USDA Forest Service’s Southern Region, the GIC and VDOF assisted coastal counties and cities with mapping their coastal forests, modeling benefits and evaluating threats they face along with strategies to mitigate or reverse impacts. | 04/21/2022 | News Releases | View | forest-management | coastal-resiliancy | |
![]() | Ash Treatment Cost-Share Program | The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is offering a cost-share program to support the treatment of ash trees. The emerald ash borer (EAB), one of the most destructive forest pests to ever invade North America, attacks ash trees and has already caused millions of dollars in damages as hundreds of millions of ash trees have perished. | 04/12/2022 | News Releases | View | financial-assistance-forest-health forest-health | emerald-ash-borer eabt-program | |
![]() | Charlotte State Forest Opens for Recreational Use | The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is pleased to announce that the Charlotte State Forest (Charlotte SF), 5,005 acres located in Charlotte County, will open to the public for recreational use beginning April 1, 2022 – just in time for the beautiful spring recreation weather in Virginia. | 03/28/2022 | News Releases | View | state-forests | charlotte-sf state-forest-recreation | |
![]() | Extreme Caution Urged When Burning Debris | The “burn pile” is a common feature on many Virginia properties. Many people use fire as a means of getting rid of yard debris, especially after storms. However, debris burning without the proper precautions in place can lead to burn piles becoming wildfires. “We understand that burning leaves and sticks is a common way of cleaning up your yard. However, if you decide to burn your yard debris, there are certain precautions that should be taken,” said John Miller of the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF). | 02/07/2022 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | 4pm-burning-law burning storm-recovery wildfire-prevention | |
![]() | Camp Woods & Wildlife Returns | Applications are open for Camp Woods & Wildlife, formerly known as Holiday Lake Forestry Camp. The 74th annual camp will be held June 20-24 at Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center near Appomattox. This action-packed camp is hosted by the Virginia Department of Forestry, with support and cooperation from other conservation agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals. | 01/20/2022 | News Releases | View | education public-information | camp education | |
![]() | What to Know Before Burning Storm Debris | In the wake of recent storms that hit Virginia, officials with the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) are encouraging people to practice safe burning if and when they begin burning yard debris and blown down limbs and trees. The VDOF regulates open burning and there are several rules, regulations, and tips that residents need to follow to stay safe, stay legal, and avoid undesirable impacts from smoke. From February 15th through the end of April, it is illegal to burn BEFORE 4 p.m. if you’re within 300 feet of woods or dry grass leading to the woods. | 01/12/2022 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | 4pm-burning-law burning storm-recovery wildfire-prevention | |
![]() | Media Alert: Charlotte State Forest Dedication | Governor Ralph Northam, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring and State Forester Rob Farrell will dedicate the Commonwealth’s newest state forest, Charlotte State Forest, Thursday, November 4th, in Charlotte County. This dedication of Virginia’s 26th state forest demonstrates a cooperative effort that will benefit Virginia’s environment and communities. | 11/01/2021 | News Releases | View | forestland-conservation state-forests | charlotte-sf | |
![]() | Governor Northam Signs Shared Stewardship Agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture | The Governor and federal officials signed an historic Shared Stewardship agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States Department of Agriculture to coordinate a response to the increasing ecological challenges and natural resource concerns throughout Virginia. The memorandum of understanding establishes a framework for state and federal agencies to improve collaboration as they strive toward their mutual goals of reducing wildfire risk and taking action against threats to forest and ecosystem health. | 09/24/2021 | News Releases | View | forest-management state-lands | governor | |
![]() | VDOF Seeks Acorns/Nuts from Virginia Landowners | The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is again seeking 12 species of acorns and nuts that can be planted at its Augusta Forestry Center [Crimora, Virginia] to grow into tree seedlings that will become the forests of tomorrow. | 09/02/2021 | News Releases | View | nurseries | acorns-nuts | |
![]() | VDOF Training Prepares Employees to Respond to Disaster at Home and Beyond | The Eastern Region of the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) will hold a “tractor-plow” training day for agency staff on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at the New Kent Forestry Center, 11301 Pocahontas Trail, Providence Forge, VA 23140. VDOF tractor-plow units are bulldozers with fire-plows attached to the back that build firelines. This training will focus on basic elements of tractor-plow operations, to include learning to care for transport trucks and tractor-plows, driving the transport, unloading and loading the bulldozer, plowing and blading firelines, driving bulldozers through an obstacle course, and using a winch. | 09/23/2021 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response training human-resources | training wildfire-suppression | |
![]() | Governor Northam Dedicates Virginia’s 26th State Forest | Governor Ralph Northam today announced the dedication of the Charlotte State Forest, opening the first publicly-accessible state land in Charlotte County. The 5,004 acre state forest is Virginia’s 26th state forest in the Commonwealth. The Virginia Department of Forestry will sustainably manage the forest under Sustainable Forestry Initiative and American Tree Farm Standards, conserving key habitat areas and providing new public access to outdoor recreation activities. | 11/04/2021 | News Releases | View | forestland-conservation state-forests | charlotte-sf forest-legacy-program governor | |
![]() | The Fall Fire Season is Here | The 2021 Fire Season is upon us, and the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is urging Virginians to learn about Wildfire Prevention and to take precautions if they are planning to burn debris this fall. | 10/19/2021 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | wildfire-hazard wildfire-prevention | |
![]() | Department of Forestry Sends Help to Battle Western Fires | As wildfire ravages many areas of the West this summer, Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) personnel from across the Commonwealth have accepted assignments to assist with fire suppression efforts. The Department has deployed thirty-nine people to serve as ground forces on fire line crews or as support staff in fire management roles throughout the west. VDOF personnel are joining other Virginia firefighters from the USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. | 08/09/2021 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | emergency-response wildfire-suppression | |
![]() | Forest Landowners Retreat to the Woods | Southwest Virginia landowners can learn more about actively managing their forestland during the Beginning Forest Landowners’ Retreat, planned for August 27-28, 2021 at the Matthews State Forest in Galax. | 05/27/2021 | News Releases | View | education forest-management public-information | camp forest-planning landowner-assistance landowner-resources | |
![]() | Plan Before You Cut | For most people, selling timber is a once in a lifetime opportunity. People may choose to sell their timber for a variety reasons including financial/income, trees in poor health, providing access, among other reasons. For a forester, harvesting timber is only part of the equation. Having a plan for what will happen afterwards is the other, often missing, key component. Timber harvesting practices affect what grows back in the future, so plan your forest’s future before you cut. | 05/13/2021 | News Releases | View | forest-management | forest-planning timber-sales | |
![]() | Elevated Fire Risk Today | The National Weather Service has elevated its forecast from a Wildfire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning in many places today. This increase is in reaction to a drop in humidity, warmer temperatures, dry fine fuels, and predicted winds and gusts in front of the approaching cold front. This cold front will bring relief in the form of moisture Friday going into the weekend; however, conditions today will be critical. | 03/11/2021 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | wildfire-hazard wildfire-prevention wildfire-suppression | |
![]() | VDOF and VCE Make Land Legacy Planning More Accessible | The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) encourage landowners to make plans for passing on their land to the next generation – right now. The Generation NEXT program is a collaboration between VDOF and VCE that helps Virginia landowners keep forests intact, in forest, and in family. Generation NEXT is hosting two low-cost virtual legacy planning series this year – in April and September – to help landowners take the first steps and clarify some of the misconceptions about the legacy planning process that might prevent people from getting started. | 03/18/2021 | News Releases | View | forestland-conservation | conservation estate-planning forest-legacy generation-next | |
![]() | Native Ecosystem Restoration Expanded in Southeastern Virginia | The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and the Meadowview Biological Research Station (MBRS) recently acquired land that expands an existing conservation easement on the Joseph Pines Preserve in Sussex County. The 196-acre purchase by MBRS increases the preserve property to nearly 428 acres. The easement, donated to VDOF by MBRS, includes the entire preserve. | 02/16/2021 | News Releases | View | forestland-conservation | conservation conservation-easements longleaf-pine | |
![]() | Spring Fire Season Begins – 4 PM Law in Effect | In Virginia, spring brings increased wildfire potential and a greater threat for escaped fires. Virginia’s spring wildland fire season and accompanying 4 PM Burning Law officially begin Monday, February 15. The law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day between February 15 and April 30 if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of woodland, brush or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. | 02/16/2021 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | 4pm-burning-law burning fire-laws law-enforcement wildfire-prevention | |
![]() | Spring Fire Season Begins – 4 PM Law in Effect | In Virginia, spring brings increased wildfire potential and a greater threat for escaped fires. Virginia’s spring wildland fire season and accompanying 4 PM Burning Law officially begin Monday, February 15. The law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day between February 15 and April 30 if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of woodland, brush or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. | 02/11/2021 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | 4pm-burning-law burning fire-laws law-enforcement wildfire-prevention | |
![]() | Land Secured for Virginia’s Newest State Forest | The Conservation Fund transfers more than 2,500 acres to the State, ensuring sustainable forest management, protecting wildlife habitat and water quality, and providing recreational access. This property will become the Charlotte State Forest. | 12/03/2020 | News Releases | View | forestland-conservation state-forests | conservation water-quality-protection wildlife-habitat | |
![]() | VDOF Seeks Acorns/Nuts from Virginia Landowners | VDOF is again seeking 12 species of acorns and nuts that can be planted at its Augusta Forestry Center to grow into tree seedlings that will become the forests of tomorrow. | 09/15/2020 | News Releases | View | nurseries | acorns-nuts fall native-species oak seedlings | |
![]() | Virginia Department of Forestry Deploys Urban Forest Strike Team to Combat Invasive Insect | VDOF in partnership with USDA Forest Service, VDACS, VDOF, and USDA-APHIS will deploy Urban Forest Strike Team members for rapid data collection of an invasive pest – spotted lanternfly. | 02/05/2020 | News Releases | View | urban-and-community-forestry | arborists emergency-response insects spotted-lanternfly tree-of-heaven urban-forestry | |
![]() | Virginia Department of Forestry Offers Cost-Share to Remove Ash Trees from Public Property | In respose to statewide decline of ash trees due to the introduction of the emerald ash borer (EAB), VDOF is offering financial assistance to remove dead or dying ash trees from the public properties. | 08/03/2020 | News Releases | View | financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry urban-and-community-forestry | ash cost-share-programs emerald-ash-borer insects native-species tree-health | |
![]() | 2020 Camp Woods & Wildlife Nominations Open | VDOF invites teens to learn in the great outdoors this summer! Nominations are now open for 2020 Camp Woods & Wildlife held in June at Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center near Appomattox, Virginia. | 03/10/2020 | News Releases | View | education public-information | camp | |
![]() | Outdoor Fires Unlawful Before 4 p.m. | The Commonwealth’s 4 p.m. Burn Law goes into effect February 15. This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day between February 15 and April 30 if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brush or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. | 02/10/2020 | News Releases | View | fire-and-emergency-response | 4pm-burning-law burning fire-laws law-enforcement wildfire-prevention |
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