The The Nature Conservancy has expanded the White River Ledges Natural Area in Sharon by 468 acres, protecting a biodiverse area that hosts 13 natural communities and 28 varieties of rare plants. (Photograph courtesy of The Nature Conservancy)
The The Nature Conservancy has expanded the White River Ledges Natural Area in Sharon by 468 acres, protecting a biodiverse area that hosts 13 natural communities and 28 varieties of rare plants. (Photograph courtesy of The Nature Conservancy) Credit: Photograph courtesy of The Nature Conservancy

Sharon — The The Nature Conservancy has expanded the White River Ledges Natural Area in Sharon by 468 acres, protecting a biodiverse area that hosts 13 natural communities and 28 variety of rare plants.

“This is what The Nature Conservancy does best — we identify Vermont’s natural treasures and work diligently to conserve them over time,” Jon Binhammer, director of land protection at the conservatory, said in a news release. “With support from our members, we began working to protect this biodiversity hotspot over 20 years ago and are thrilled that the sum of our efforts is 643 acres of connected and resilient landscape.”

The expanded White River Ledges Natural Area contains 2 miles of White River shoreline as well as other fragile ecological zones. There is 1.6-mile trail open to the public for hiking, and the area is also open for fishing, bird-watching, snowshoeing and hunting.

The recent acquisition was made possible with funding from conservation supporters including the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund, the Highfield Foundation, Davis Conservation Foundation, the Bafflin Foundation, the Charles and Edna Brundage Charitable, Scientific and Wildlife Conservation Foundation, the Holborn Foundation, L.W. Webster Co. Inc. and the town of Sharon.

The Nature Conservancy owns and manages 55 natural areas throughout the state, focusing on areas that are biodiverse and have the potential to show resiliency in the face of climate changes.