32 VIRGINIA FORESTS The original Chestnut Ridge preserve has an outstanding example of a Central Appalachian Chestnut Oak-Northern Red Oak forest with old-growth characteristics including individual trees over 300 years old. Two additional natural communities have been documented on the newly acquired portions of the Chestnut Ridge preserve, both of which are among the best of their types in Virginia. These include Central Appalachian Montane Oak-Hickory Forest Central and a globally and state imperiled Central Appalachian Mountain Pond. “Our protection work to expand the amount of forest land and natural communities in and around Chestnut Ridge will go a long way to ensuring that the existing old-growth forests in the heart of the natural area preserve remain undisturbed and resilient,” said Jason Bulluck, director of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at DCR, which manages the state’s 66 natural area preserves. “The entire area is classified as an ‘outstanding’ ecological core—the highest possible ranking in the Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment.” The preserve, originally 233 acres, was established in 2006 with an open space easement and natural area deed of dedication recorded by the former landowners through a grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. In 2020, the first preserve expansion occurred through DCR’s purchase of additional forested areas lying to the north and the south. Cascades’ New Recycled Containerboard Packaging Plant Begins Operations In May, Cascades, Inc. produced its first roll of 100 percent recycled containerboard at its Bear Island, Va., mill. The mill has an annual production capacity of 465,000 tons of 100 percent recycled containerboard. The project created 700 jobs in the region during the construction of the mill and 180 permanent jobs with the onset of commercial production. “The the start-up of Bear Island marks an historic milestone in the strategic modernization of our mill network,” said Mario Plourde, president and CEO at Cascades. “More than ever, Cascades has modern and competitive assets that will allow us to pursue long-term growth in packaging, on a North American scale.” Youth Conservation Camp in Edmunds Park, Halifax County. Halifax Soil & Water Conservation Hosts 49th Annual Youth Conservation Camp Halifax Soil & Water Conservation District hosted the 49th annual Youth Conservation Camp at Edmunds Park in April that was attended by approximately 130 sixth graders from Halifax County Middle School and C.H. Friend School. The students spent the day learning about conservation and natural resources. Classes were presented covering forestry, livestock, plant identification, pollination, soil, watersheds, stream monitoring and wildlife as well as some relay games with Halifax County 4H. This year’s donors included Farm Credit of the Virginias, Huber Engineered Woods, Owen Fencing LLC, H&M Logging Inc, Comfort Systems LLC and Halifax County Farm Bureau.
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