Black Forest Wildlife Preserve: Protecting Delaware’s Wild Heart

Nestled in Sussex County, the Black Forest Wildlife Preserve is a rare sanctuary where nature thrives and the community plays an active role in its protection. Spanning acres of towering pines, quiet wetlands, and diverse ecosystems, the preserve is dedicated to ensuring that wildlife and humans can coexist in harmony.

Our Mission

At Black Forest, the team works to:

• Protect native species and ecosystems

• Provide safe havens for migratory and endangered wildlife

• Promote responsible land stewardship through education and community action

This commitment includes caring for habitats that support native birds, reptiles, mammals, indigenous plants, and critical pollinator populations — each an essential part of Delaware’s environmental health.

What We Protect

Every acre of Black Forest tells a unique story:

• Towering pines that shelter nesting birds

• Hidden wetlands vital to amphibians and aquatic life

• Pollinator-rich meadows where native wildflowers provide food and habitat

• Quiet forest trails where visitors can connect with nature

A Community Effort

The preserve thrives because of the people who care for it. Volunteers of all ages join in for habitat restoration, native plantings, educational programs, and wildlife walks. Seasonal events bring neighbors together, turning conservation into a shared experience.

Spotlight Volunteer: Ben Parsons

When Sussex Academy student Ben Parsons received the 2025 Governor’s Young Environmentalist Award, it highlighted not only his dedication to nature but also one of Delaware’s most unique conservation areas: the Black Forest Wildlife Preserve.

Ben played a major role in preserving 60 acres of land through the Black Forest Wildlife Coexist Program, a sanctuary where wildlife and humans can coexist in harmony. His leadership with Sussex Teens Are Responsible Stewards (STARS) has inspired community cleanups, native plantings, and wildlife workshops, showing that the next generation is ready to protect the wild places Delaware holds dear.

Ben’s work extends further through his collaboration with Contractors for a Cause, connecting businesses with hands-on conservation projects, and he has been nominated as a junior board member of the Black Forest Wildlife Coexist Foundation, helping guide broader conservation and educational initiatives.

Preserving Farmland and Forests

In Delaware, agricultural land and woodlands are more than scenic landscapes — they are vital ecosystems that sustain biodiversity, protect wildlife, and preserve the state’s way of life. Ben’s family has been deeply committed to protecting these spaces, with his mother leading much of the preservation efforts.

Her vision is simple yet powerful: keep lands intact so that future generations — both human and wild — can thrive. Protecting farmland secures open spaces for food, livelihoods, and critical habitats, while preserving woodlands safeguards native species, sequesters carbon, and maintains ecosystem balance. Together, these landscapes create a patchwork of life supporting pollinators, songbirds, deer, foxes, and more.

Through the combined efforts of the Black Forest team, community volunteers, and young leaders like Ben Parsons, Delaware’s natural heritage is protected, ensuring a vibrant, thriving environment for generations to come.