A Year in Review: VCN’s 2023 Annual Report
Thanks to highly coordinated efforts and despite political headwinds, VCN — in our role as the strategic facilitator of our 150+ Network Partners — was successful in holding onto major environmental and climate policy successes from the last few years while celebrating historic investments in conservation funding through the budget.
Our Annual Report reviews Virginia Conservation Network’s work from Spring 2022 to Winter 2023. While it feels almost impossible to cover everything we worked on last year in only a few pages, we did our best to squeeze in the highlights, including:
- our strategy to advance conservation initiatives year-round,
- our policy gains and challenges through the General Assembly session and beyond,
- our Network Partner engagement events,
- and more.
As we sent this annual report to the printer, we learned of the tragic loss of our Clean Energy & Climate Justice Policy Manager, Shawn Soares, on May 4th, 2023. Shawn was committed to devoting his career to bettering the Commonwealth and was a rising star in the climate movement. We are dedicating this annual report to him and are committed to working in his honor moving forward.
Read more of our recent updates from our blog:
Virginia Invasive Plants Species List
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has released a comprehensive list of the invasive plant species in Virginia that are established — or may become established — in Virginia.
How Trees Save Energy
The Virginia Department of Forestry provides a list of educational tree-related resources, including tree's role in energy conservation, planting guides for specific weather conditions, and more.
Virginia Native Plant Cultivation Guides
Virginia Native Plant Society provides native plant guides showcasing best native plant growing practices for Virginia's different regions, including plant recommendations, planting and maintenance recommendations, and more.
Virginia Invasive Plant ID & Control Tool
Blue Ridge PRISM provides an invasive plant species tool highlighting invasive plant species in Virginia, including photos, removal and disposal methods, corresponding fact sheets, and more.
Map: James River Watch
The James River Association provides an updated weekly map identifying various testing sites within the James River watershed and their associated conditions, including bacteria levels, flood risk, and more.
Blue Catfish: Threatening the Balance of Virginia’s Waterways
Blue catfish are an invasive fish species that continue to threaten Virginia's waterways and native aquatic species.