Friends of the James River Park announce new conservation initiative

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Friends of the James River Park have recently announced a new conservation initiative -- the Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP).

The NRMP is a document that will serve as a blueprint for the health and resilience of the James River Park System (JRPS) for years to come, utilizing a science-based framework to understand, enhance and protect the Park's variety of ecosystems, according to the website.

The plan addresses key areas such as:

• Strategic invasive species management -- a detailed roadmap to fight pervasive invasive plants that negatively impact native flora and fauna.
• Native habitat restoration -- guidelines for re-establishing native plant communities to support biodiversity in local areas.
• Sustainable resource use -- principles for being able to partake in recreational opportunities while still prioritizing ecological preservation.
• Capacity building -- a framework for staff expansion and volunteer involvement in the work of natural resource stewardship.

"We believe the NRMP will serve as a powerful tool, enabling us to make informed decisions and implement effective conservation actions that will benefit generations to come," the website said.

This plan was created with help from the JRPS Staff, Friends of the James River Park, the JRPS Invasive Plant Task Force and local subject matter experts, the organization's website said.

For more information about the initiative, and to stay updated on how NRMP will be applied, click here.