Virginia Natural Heritage Program

05/27/2026

Virginia Natural Heritage Program's Fast Facts: Modeled Species

Natural Heritage has modeled habitat suitability for 187 species so far and we are continuously expanding the list with many more species on the way. The predicted habitat suitability maps are being used to prioritize conservation and restoration and to guide future field surveys.

05/26/2026

On May 9, the Southwest Regional Supervisor, Claiborne Woodall, led a hike on Whitetop Mountain for the 52nd annual Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally. Seventeen participants hiked 3-miles across the globally-rare Southern Appalachian Grassy Bald and adjacent woodland, observed several rare plant and bird species, and discussed the disturbance ecology and management that has enabled the bald to persist. The Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally is a two-night/three-day annual event managed by the Blue Ridge Discovery Centerwhich showcases the crown jewel of southwest Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains: the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, home to Virginia's three tallest peaks. Numerous field trips and other educational programs are offered throughout the Rally. This year’s Spring Rally had 143 attendees, plus 36 guides, 13 volunteers, and 7 staff, for a total of 199 people who participated in the Rally.

See: Rally Overview — Blue Ridge Discovery Center https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/rally-overview

05/25/2026

On Saturday May 2, Virginia Natural Heritage Program Coastal Region Steward Shannon Alexander and Eastern Shore Land Trust (ESLT) hosted a litter and marine debris removal event along the shoreline of Savage Neck. This was part of a larger Chesapeake Bay Foundation watershed-wide effort held since 1989, Clean the Bay Day. The efforts began on an ESLT eased property to the south of Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve and included the preserve in their cleanup efforts. The Coastal Region Steward was able to welcome volunteers and talk to them about the Division’s 40th anniversary, mission and the significance of the shoreline here for the federally listed Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle (Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis). She also spoke to best practices while removing debris to reduce the risk of negatively impacting the flora and fauna and identified and removed nonnative Hoary Mugwort or Beach Wormwood (Artemisia stelleriana). A total of nine volunteers and two leashed canines removed eight bags of litter and treated lumber with metal hardware totaling almost 300 lbs along 1.5 miles of shoreline and dune habitat. This partnership not only cleans up the preserve but allows us to encourage care of our sensitive bay shorelines and its inhabitants to a group of people we may not otherwise reach.

05/22/2026

On May 3, Mountain Region Steward, Jimmy Francis, and Invasive Species Specialist, Lindsay Caplan, led an interpretive hike to Mill Creek Springs Natural Area Preserve for eight enthusiastic members of the Roanoke Valley Master Naturalist Chapter. The group spent two hours identifying plants, birding, and learning about the natural communities present on the site and the work the Natural Heritage Program does to preserve Virginia’s biodiversity. In the words of one excited participant, two hours was “way too short!”

05/21/2026

On April 17, Natural Heritage’s Southeast Region Operations Steward, Dylan Gavagni, provided an educational exhibit at the York County school districts Science Expo. The table, display and information focused on prescribed fire, longleaf pine restoration and science-based career opportunities. Dylan shared information about the Division and Agency’s respective 40th and 100th anniversaries, the State Natural Area Preserve system and about prescribed fire's role in protecting and promoting biodiversity. There were approximately 400 middle school aged families in attendance. DCR staff had an opportunity to have thorough conversations with people of all ages throughout the event.

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dcr100/
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nh40

05/20/2026

Virginia Natural Heritage Network Program’s Fast Fact: Global Rarity in Virginia

NatureServe, a North American conservation organization, assesses the worldwide conservation status of the continent’s biodiversity and monitors each piece of biodiversity as an element. Elements are species or things tracked like species (e.g. a plant community or bird rookery). NatureServe assigns elements with global ranks (G-Ranks), ranging from G5 (no long-term concerns for extinction) up to G1 (a very high risk of extinction). G1-G3 elements are generally referred to as “globally rare”.

In Virginia, the Natural Heritage Program tracks 1,251 “species” (aka elements) of plants (n=223), animals (n=644) and natural communities (n=384) that are assessed as G1-G3. This includes 325 critically imperiled G1 species and 355 imperiled G2 species. The conservation of these globally rare species is at the heart of the program’s mission to serve the commonwealth.

Lists of Virginia’s rare species can be found here:
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/infoservices

Photo Caption:

Breakdowns by type and global rank of Virginia’s globally rare elements (as listed by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program.

05/18/2026

On May 5th, DCR Natural Heritage Zoologist Andrew Rapp surveyed an area of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest for state-rare and federally under review Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus; G3S1S2). During the survey, an incredible diversity of tiger beetles (family Carabidae subfamily Cicindelinae) was detected. A total of seven species including two state rare and two watchlist species were recorded. This is one of the most, if not the most, diverse sites for tiger beetles known in the state. The species seen include state-rare Claybanks Tiger Beetle (Cicindela limbalis; G5S1), state-rare Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle (Cicindela patruela; G3S2), watchlist Purple Tiger Beetle (Cicindela purpurea; G5S3), watchlist Splendid Tiger Beetle (Cicindela splendida; G5S3), One-spotted Tiger Beetle (Apterodela unipunctata; G4 S3S4), Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle (Cicindela tranquebarica; G5S4), and Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata; G5S5).

05/15/2026

On April 14, Natural Areas GIS Specialist, Michael Holden, and Natural Areas Public Access Coordinator, Wes Paulos, gave an hour-long presentation at the Professional Trail Builder Association Conference in Boise, Idaho. The session focused on developing and utilizing trail assessment surveys using ArcGIS Survey123. This upgraded mobile app tool will enable DNH staff to capture the location, condition, pictures and recommended repairs of concerns on trails on NAPs throughout the state as well as track updates on repair status. The survey was created using Survey123 Connect, which requires some technical familiarity. Michael discussed how to use this software and provided the participants with a template to enable them to create and customize trail surveys for their own organizations. The presentation was attended by 47 conference participants. DNH has been utilizing this survey since 2023 and has shared it with other organizations such as TNC and VA State Parks.

05/15/2026

Here's another special opportunity to explore one of Virginia's fascinating caves, as part of Virginia Cave Week and the Natural Heritage 40th Anniversary celebrations! Sign up soon!

Virginia Cave Board

Ogdens Cave Natural Area Preserve is normally closed to the public to protect its delicate ecosystem. However, for Virginia Cave Week and the Virginia Natural Heritage Program’s 40th anniversary, cavers and speleologists from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation are hosting exclusive tours.

Join our experts on Tuesday, June 2, from 3-7 p.m. to learn about karst landscapes and journey inside the cave.

This event is rain or shine, and registration is capped at 75 people. Secure your spot by emailing Meredith Weberg at [email protected] by May 26.

For more info, visit: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/eventsdetail-ogdenscave

05/15/2026

On Saturday, May 2, Northern Region Supervisor and Steward, Michael Lott, led a hike at Crow’s Nest NAP as part of a series of events celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program. Ten participants hiked the Boykin’s Landing Trail while discussing the importance of large mature forests such as found at Crow’s Nest for forest interior birds. Spring migration was heating up, and the group observed approximately 60 species during the hike, including 15 warbler species. In addition, the group learned how the underlying geology at Crow’s Nest influences the distribution of plant communities and how this affects where different bird species breed.

There are more events happening for our 40th Anniversary year!
check them out and sign up at the link below in comment!