A new online tool is helping Virginians interested in learning about the effects of changing land use on a particular tract of forest or farm land in Virginia.

The free program called InFOREST was developed by the Virginia Department of Forestry in partnership with Virginia Tech and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. They received funding for the program from Dominion Virginia Power and a U.S. Forest Service grant.

Forestry officials say the tool will help city and county planners, landowners and others better evaluate how forest cover impacts water and air quality. Users can do basic mapping and view various layers such as aerial imagery, topography, as well as various ecosystem information.