{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/10.1-209.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/10.1-209.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/10.1-209.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/10.1-209.html"}],"law_id":345853,"edition_id":2,"section_id":345853,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-209","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1989, c. 553.","full_text":"Whenever used or referred to in this article, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the text:\n\n“Fund” means the Natural Area Preservation Fund.\n\n“Dedication” means the transfer to the Commonwealth of an estate, interest, or right in a natural area by any manner authorized in \u00a7 10.1-213.\n\n“Instrument of dedication” means any written document by which an estate, interest, or right in a natural area conveys formal dedication as a natural area preserve pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 10.1-213.\n\n“Natural area” means any area of land, water, or both land and water, whether publicly or privately owned, that retains or has reestablished its natural character, though it need not be completely natural and undisturbed; or which is important in preserving rare or vanishing flora, fauna, native ecological systems, geological, natural historical, scenic or similar features of scientific or educational value benefiting the citizens of the Commonwealth.\n\n“Natural area preserve” means a natural area that has been dedicated pursuant to \u00a7 10.1-213.\n\n“Natural heritage resources” means the habitat of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species, rare or state significant natural communities or geologic sites, and similar features of scientific interest benefiting the welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.\n\n“Program” means the Virginia Natural Heritage Program.\n\n“Owner” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust or association, and all governmental units except the state, its department, agencies or institutions.\n\n“Registry” means an agreement between the Director and the owner of a natural area to protect and manage the natural area for its specified natural heritage resource values.\n\n“System” means the state system of natural area preserves established under \u00a7 10.1-214.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1289530,"text":"Whenever used or referred to in this article, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the text:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1289531,"text":"“Fund” means the Natural Area Preservation Fund.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1289532,"text":"“Dedication” means the transfer to the Commonwealth of an estate, interest, or right in a natural area by any manner authorized in \u00a7 10.1-213.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1289533,"text":"“Instrument of dedication” means any written document by which an estate, interest, or right in a natural area conveys formal dedication as a natural area preserve pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 10.1-213.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"4":{"id":1289534,"text":"“Natural area” means any area of land, water, or both land and water, whether publicly or privately owned, that retains or has reestablished its natural character, though it need not be completely natural and undisturbed; or which is important in preserving rare or vanishing flora, fauna, native ecological systems, geological, natural historical, scenic or similar features of scientific or educational value benefiting the citizens of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"5":{"id":1289535,"text":"“Natural area preserve” means a natural area that has been dedicated pursuant to \u00a7 10.1-213.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"6":{"id":1289536,"text":"“Natural heritage resources” means the habitat of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species, rare or state significant natural communities or geologic sites, and similar features of scientific interest benefiting the welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"7":{"id":1289537,"text":"“Program” means the Virginia Natural Heritage Program.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"8":{"id":1289538,"text":"“Owner” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust or association, and all governmental units except the state, its department, agencies or institutions.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"9":{"id":1289539,"text":"“Registry” means an agreement between the Director and the owner of a natural area to protect and manage the natural area for its specified natural heritage resource values.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"10":{"id":1289540,"text":"“System” means the state system of natural area preserves established under \u00a7 10.1-214.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":49662,"edition_id":2,"name":"Virginia Natural Area Preserves Act","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":4,"parent_id":49657,"metadata":{"child_laws":9,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:13:09","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:46","permalink":{"id":1370695,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49662,"identifier":"3","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49657,"edition_id":2,"name":"Parks and Recreation","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":49585,"metadata":{"child_laws":28,"child_structures":5},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:13:04","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:45","permalink":{"id":1370615,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49657,"identifier":"2","token":"10.1\/I\/2","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49585,"edition_id":2,"name":"Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":49584,"metadata":{"child_laws":357,"child_structures":44},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:11:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:44","permalink":{"id":1370317,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49585,"identifier":"I","token":"10.1\/I","url":"\/10.1\/I\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49584,"edition_id":2,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":38,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":886,"child_structures":125},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:11:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:44","permalink":{"id":1370315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49584,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":345853,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-209","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/10.1-209\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-209","metadata":false},{"id":345854,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-210","catch_line":"Additional powers of the Department","url":"\/10.1-210\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-210","metadata":false},{"id":345860,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-211","catch_line":"Additional duties of the Department","url":"\/10.1-211\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-211","metadata":false},{"id":345867,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-212","catch_line":"Virginia Natural Heritage Program","url":"\/10.1-212\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-212","metadata":false},{"id":345881,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-213","catch_line":"Dedication of natural area preserves","url":"\/10.1-213\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-213","metadata":false},{"id":345889,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-214","catch_line":"Virginia natural area preserves system established","url":"\/10.1-214\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":345890,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-215","catch_line":"Natural Area Preservation Fund established","url":"\/10.1-215\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-215","metadata":false},{"id":345891,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-216","catch_line":"Natural area registry","url":"\/10.1-216\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-216","metadata":false},{"id":345893,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-217","catch_line":"Gifts, devises and bequests","url":"\/10.1-217\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-217","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":345854,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-210","catch_line":"Additional powers of the Department","url":"\/10.1-210\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-210","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-209\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1989. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 553 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1989 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":345881,"section_number":"10.1-213","catch_line":"Dedication of natural area preserves","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-213\/"},{"id":345889,"section_number":"10.1-214","catch_line":"Virginia natural area preserves system established","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-214\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1370697,"object_type":"law","relational_id":345853,"identifier":"10.1-209","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-209","url":"\/10.1-209\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-209\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-209","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-209","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Whenever used or referred to in this article, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the text:<\/p>

“Fund<\/span>” means the Natural Area<\/span> Preservation Fund<\/span>.<\/p>

“Dedication<\/span>” means the transfer to the Commonwealth of an estate, interest, or right in a natural area<\/span> by any manner authorized in \u00a7 10.1-213<\/a>.<\/p>

“Instrument of dedication<\/span>” means any written document by which an estate, interest, or right in a natural area conveys formal dedication as a natural area preserve<\/span> pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 10.1-213<\/a>.<\/p>

“Natural area” means any area of land, water, or both land and water, whether publicly or privately owned, that retains or has reestablished its natural character, though it need not be completely natural and undisturbed; or which is important in preserving rare or vanishing flora, fauna, native ecological systems<\/span>, geological, natural historical, scenic or similar features of scientific or educational value benefiting the citizens of the Commonwealth.<\/p>

“Natural area preserve<\/span>” means a natural area that has been dedicated pursuant to \u00a7 10.1-213<\/a>.<\/p>

“Natural heritage resources<\/span>” means the habitat of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species, rare or state significant natural communities or geologic sites, and similar features of scientific interest benefiting the welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.<\/p>

“Program<\/span>” means the Virginia Natural Heritage Program<\/span>.<\/p>

“Owner<\/span>” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust or association, and all governmental units except the state, its department<\/span>, agencies or institutions.<\/p>

“Registry<\/span>” means an agreement between the Director<\/span> and the owner<\/span> of a natural area to protect and manage the natural area for its specified natural heritage resource values.<\/p>

“System<\/span>” means the state system<\/span> of natural area preserves<\/span> established under \u00a7 10.1-214<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 10.1-209)\n\nWhenever used or referred to in this article, unless a different meaning clearly\nappears from the text:\n\n“Fund” means the Natural Area Preservation Fund.\n\n“Dedication” means the transfer to the Commonwealth of an estate,\ninterest, or right in a natural area by any manner authorized in \u00a7 10.1-213.\n\n“Instrument of dedication” means any written document by which an\nestate, interest, or right in a natural area conveys formal dedication as a\nnatural area preserve pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 10.1-213.\n\n“Natural area” means any area of land, water, or both land and\nwater, whether publicly or privately owned, that retains or has reestablished\nits natural character, though it need not be completely natural and undisturbed;\nor which is important in preserving rare or vanishing flora, fauna, native\necological systems, geological, natural historical, scenic or similar features\nof scientific or educational value benefiting the citizens of the Commonwealth.\n\n“Natural area preserve” means a natural area that has been dedicated\npursuant to \u00a7 10.1-213.\n\n“Natural heritage resources” means the habitat of rare, threatened,\nor endangered plant and animal species, rare or state significant natural\ncommunities or geologic sites, and similar features of scientific interest\nbenefiting the welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.\n\n“Program” means the Virginia Natural Heritage Program.\n\n“Owner” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust or\nassociation, and all governmental units except the state, its department,\nagencies or institutions.\n\n“Registry” means an agreement between the Director and the owner of\na natural area to protect and manage the natural area for its specified natural\nheritage resource values.\n\n“System” means the state system of natural area preserves\nestablished under \u00a7 10.1-214.\n\nHISTORY: 1989, c. 553.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}