Big Woods State Forest
| Big Woods State Forest | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
 Prescribed burn taking place within Big Woods State Forest's longleaf pine restoration area, February 2017. (Mature trees are loblolly pine serving as windbreak.) | |
  Location within Virginia | |
| Location | Sussex County, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 36°56′17.0″N 77°04′52.4″W / 36.938056°N 77.081222°W / 36.938056; -77.081222 |
| Area | 2,403 acres (9.72 km2) |
| Established | 2010 |
| Governing body | Virginia Department of Forestry |
Big Woods State Forest is a 2,403-acre (9.72 km2) state forest in Sussex County, Virginia. It was the first state forest property to be established in southeast Virginia.[1]
History
The property, previously used for timber production by International Paper, was acquired by the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) in 2010. It was part of a $6.4 million purchase of 4,400 acres (18 km2) undertaken by VDOF and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF); the remainder of the purchased property was used to create Big Woods Wildlife Management Area, located immediately adjacent Big Woods State Forest and managed by VDGIF.[2][3]
Description
Big Woods State Forest covers a landscape typified by pine savanna; it contains primarily loblolly pine from its days as a timber plantation, and newer plantings of longleaf pine.[2] Wildlife on the property include deer, wild turkey, bobcat, fox, coyote, and rabbit.[3]
The state forest borders both the Big Woods Wildlife Management Area and The Nature Conservancy's Piney Grove Preserve, a 3,200-acre (13 km2) property dedicated to restoring longleaf pine forest for the benefit of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.[4][5] Management of both the state forest and wildlife management area aims to promote the survival of the red-cockaded woodpecker through the planting of longleaf pine and the installation of nest boxes.[3]
Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and hiking is permitted within Big Woods State Forest; all activities except hiking require visitors to possess a valid State Forest Use Permit.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Big Woods State Forest". Virginia Department of Forestry. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ a b Passut, Charlie (July 23, 2010). "Big Woods now a state forest, wildlife area". The Tidewater News. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c Harper, Scott (September 27, 2011). "Big Woods State Forest gets boost from Va". The Virginian–Pilot. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ "Piney Grove Preserve". Nature.org. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ Thomas, James Jr. (January 11, 2015). "Beyond Suffolk to the Big Woods". The Virginian–Pilot. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
External links
- Virginia Department of Forestry: Big Woods State Forest
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