This webinar is part of the Virginia Master Naturalist Continuing Education series.

Description: Virginia has lost over half a million acres of forestland since 1977 and that loss is projected to continue.  Forest loss is frequently the result of parcelization and fragmentation, which often occur following intergenerational transfers of land.  Family forest landowners own 2/3 of Virginia's forests, and how they choose to manage or protect them is critical to the long-term viability of the state's forestland.  Since 2008, the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has permanently protected more than 30,000 acres of private forestland through its Forestland Conservation Program.  This workshop will focus on the VDOF's Forestland Conservation Program, the mechanics of conservation easements, and other existing tools, programs, and opportunities for landowners to participate in the effort to protect Virginia's forest resources. 

Presenter: Kim Biasiolli joined the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) in August of 2014 as the Forest Conservation Specialist for the Central Region, which includes the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and areas west to Galax.  She works on forest conservation and stewardship projects and specifically, conservation easement development.  Kim holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and a M.S. in Natural Resources, with a concentration in Forest Ecology, from the University of Vermont.  Her professional career has involved working on science and conservation projects for federal and state agencies, as well as non-profit organizations.  Prior to coming to VDOF, she worked as a botanist for the New York Natural Heritage Program and as the stewardship coordinator for the Yolo Land Trust, a small local land trust in northern California. 

This webinar was presented on 26 August 2015.