The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) has preserved over 5,399 acres of land since its founding in 1994, announced NVCT President Michael Nardolilli at the trust's annual breakfast attended by 92 conservation enthusiasts Wednesday at the Mark Center Hilton in Alexandria.  NVCT added five parcels through easements and acquired three new parcels in 2010, he reported. 

In Mount Vernon, the trust has protected land along Little Hunting Creek and the Potomac River and on Mason Neck, adjacent to Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area, a federal property.

Preserving land and greening suburbia "is not just wilderness.  It's a critical part of a healthy city," said Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, welcoming attendees. Alexandria is working to link green spaces across the city and even tearing down old buildings to create more parks.

Keynote speaker Doug Domenech, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, opened his remarks with, "We [the Bob McDonnell administration] have a passion to protect as much of Virginia as we can."  While the governor's priority is economic development and job creation, Domenech explained, their goal is to conserve 400,000 acres.  In the administration's first year, the state has protected 51,000 acres. 

"People like doing this," he commented.  "We will also be looking at ourselves," he added, pointing out that there may be opportunities at state prisons, colleges and universities.

Governor McDonnell wants Virginia to be "the energy capital of the nation" and is encouraging offshore wind development, he said.  Domenech described the Obama administration's moratorium on offshore gas and oil development on Virginia's coast as a "setback" and said the McDonnell administration will work with the state's Congressional delegation to allow lease sales and generate revenue, authority that some Gulf of Mexico states currently have.

In NVCT's "2025 vision" statement, the organization aims for "a future where most Northern Virginians by 2025 would be connected to the natural world by living within close proximity to a park, trail, protected stream valley or preserved natural area.  We foresee a time when many of these areas are linked together in a connected tapestry of green spaces." 

The trust owns 21 properties and has 93 voluntary preservation agreements with private owners.  Their work covers the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Stafford and Prince William.  Visit www.nvct.org for more information.