The Historic Virginia Land Conservancy and the Middle Peninsula Land Trust have announced the merger of their two organizations, according to a press release.

Founded in 1997, MPLT has strived to protect and preserve Virginia’s Middle Peninsula marshes, forests, farmlands, scenic and historic resources in lands that comprise the watersheds of the Rappahannock and York rivers and Mobjack Bay, the release stated. The small board of volunteers has assisted landowners in protecting their properties for future generations, facilitating the protection of 17 parcels totaling 2,011 acres.

“The MPLT board unanimously voted to merge with the Historic Virginia Land Conservancy knowing that the talents of HVLC would ensure that land with conservation easements are properly protected into the future,” said Neal Barber, executive director of MPLT.

HVLC was originally founded in 1990 as the Historic Rivers Land Conservancy. It became the Williamsburg Land Conservancy in 1996 and ...