STEWARDING LAND ALONG SHENANDOAH’S BORDERS
Nature doesn’t recognize borders. Wildlife crosses in and out of protected and private land; invasive plants ride wind, cars, and boots across boundaries; streams flow from protected mountain tops into forested hollers and vibrant working lands.
With a park as long and narrow as Shenandoah, bordered by thousands of privately owned properties in eight counties, what affects one entity inevitably (and quickly) affects the rest. Collaboration with park neighbors is not only important to Shenandoah and its visitors, but critical to our community. Clean water, clean air, healthy forests, and access to the outdoors make the quality of life we all enjoy possible.
Through the Good Neighbors Program, the Trust supports Shenandoah National Park and regional conservation by engaging with park neighbors, connecting Shenandoah to regional conservation efforts, and protecting borderlands.
Together we can be Great Neighbors!
Whether you live next to Shenandoah or many miles away, you can be a great park neighbor. Actions as simple as changing a lightbulb in your outdoor lighting or choosing a native plants for your landscaping keeps Shenandoah’s forests and wildlife thriving.
- Protect forests and streams for people, plants and wildlife
- Preserve public access to trailheads
- Prevent encroaching development
- Keep the night sky dark for people and wildlife
- Support forest health through sustainable forest management
- Limit the spread of invasive species
Photo Credit: NPS
Not sure what you can do? Check out these resources to help you get started. We are always available to answer your questions and help connect you to the right conservation partner for further assistance.
Photo credit: NPS
Protect Your Land
The Shenandoah National Park Trust accepts donations of land (or land purchased) on behalf of Shenandoah National Park to protect open space, forests, freshwater, and public access. The Trust accepts lands that are ecologically healthy, forested, and adjacent to Shenandoah National Park. We work only with willing landowners and will endeavor to transfer land to Shenandoah National Park.
Not ready to donate your land? Consider donating a conservation easement instead. Conservation easements protect land in perpetuity while allowing the land to remain under your family’s care.
While the Trust does not hold conservation easements, we can help you understand your options and match you with a trusted land conservation easement partner.
Steward Your Land
Healthy lands and waters are those that are thoughtfully stewarded to grow forests, keep streams clean, and working lands productive.
Whether you’re managing timber, controlling invasive plants, managing your farm, or keeping streams clean and cool, these programs and tools from our conservation partners are here for great park neighbors like you.
Foraging Responsibly
Shenandoah’s trails offer more than views! Did you know that limited foraging is permitted in the park? Learn how to forage responsibly without harming the park’s natural areas and wildlife.
Make an Observation, Make an Impact
Brook trout, black bears, migratory birds, and native pollinators rely on the land and waters you help protect every day! Keep Shenandoah wild by joining our iNaturalist Project. The observations you collect are valuable scientific data that directly supports park research and protection efforts.
Keep the Night Sky Dark
Plants, animals, insects, and humans all need dark night skies to survive and thrive. A simple change in your outdoor lighting can make a huge impact benefiting wildlife, insects, plants, and humans at night! Keep outdoor lighting useful, targeted, low-level, controlled, and warm-colored. We love this graphic from the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative, click the image to download the PDF! 
Chose Native Plants
Did you know that oak trees can support over 500 species of butterflies and moths? Choosing Virginia native plants is one of the easiest ways to be a great park neighbor and support wildlife and pollinators. Native plants get big bonus points preventing the introduction of invasive plants through landscaping (think Callery pear) and requiring less care to grow in terms of care. Did we mention they are beautiful offering gorgeous flowers in the spring and summer, striking fall foliage, and structural winter interest?
Community Engagement
The Good Neighbors Program invests in and supports community-led conservation efforts in the eight counties surrounding Shenandoah National Park.
Engaging park neighbors through local events tailored to the community is a great first step in getting to know our neighbors. Conservation is about people. Strong relationships built through mutual trust make actions to protect this place we all call home.
Learn more about Good Neighbors in Etlan (Madison County) and our partnership with DuCard Vineyards and the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative to begin a community conversation.
Good Neighbors Program Manager, Beth Mizell discusses the power of community and conservation with Scott Elliff of Ducard Vineyards at Good Neighbors Open House event. Click here to watch the full conversation!
Protecting Borderlands
The Trust has worked to protect over 1,800 acres along Shenandoah National Park’s boundary. The Good Neighbors Program works to reach and educate bordering landowners about land donation as an option for perpetual protection and stewardship.
Preserving land in the Shenandoah borderlands is critical to ensuring public access to the outdoors, protects open space/working lands, and keeping critical forest lands extending from the Blue Ridge Mountains intact. We work only with willing park neighbors to protect strategic areas along Shenandoah’s borders.
Funding through The Edge Fund covers the cost of accepting donated land or purchasing property from park neighbors who are interested in seeing their land preserved by the park for future generations.
Map of Tanner’s Ridge Property, 1,000 acres officially dedicated to Shenandoah National Park in May of 2023.
Good Neighbors Program Manager, Beth Mizell and SNPT Board of Trustee, John Tschirky visiting a potential land gift to the Trust in April of 2026.
Got Questions? Contact Good Neighbors Program Manager, Beth Mizell to learn more!
434-293-2728