The views to and from West Virginia's New River Gorge are unique to the region. The rough, white water flows north -- rare in North America -- chiseling through the red rock and carving deep canyons. Despite its name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers on the continent, and the 70,000-acre national river park surrounding it is rich in cultural and natural history.

Nearly 1,600 acres on the rim of the New River Gorge have been protected from excessive development through a conservation partnership involving the landowner, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The acquisition closes a gap of previously unprotected land between the Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area and the New River Gorge National River, which curls 53 miles from Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park and is managed by the National Park Service. The area is about 175 miles south of Pittsburgh.

"The diversity of plant and animal life in and around the gorge is among the highest of temperate deciduous forests anywhere on Earth, and the scenery is spectacular," said Rodney Bartgis, West Virginia director of The Nature Conservancy, in a prepared statement. "The wildlife management and recreation opportunities of this property are a great complement to those natural attributes."

As is often the case, the conservation acquisition was complicated and involved several partners: Landowner Greenbrier Forest Products sold the tract to The Nature Conservancy, which agreed to sell it to West Virginia DNR during the next two years. DNR will use revenue generated from the sale of hunting licenses and a $20,000 grant from the West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The agency will manage the land as a wildlife management area.

"When sports men and women, the state and conservation organizations work together, we can accomplish some great conservation results," said Frank Jezioro, director of the West Virginia DNR. "This project ensures West Virginians will continue to have the incredible opportunities to hunt and fish and watch wildlife that the New River Gorge area provides."

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