LAND CONSERVATION & OUTDOOR RECREATION
Our Commitment
Protecting and making Virginia’s natural resources and outdoor recreation accessible in order to sustain the health of our families, wildlife, and water.
THE ISSUE
Virginian’s identities and quality of life are rooted in our land. We take pride in our stunning and iconic landscapes: the rugged Appalachian Mountains, fertile Piedmont, tidal rivers flowing across the coastal plain to the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia’s natural resources support local economies; form the foundation of our culture and diverse communities; and sustain the health of our people, our wildlife, and our water. But the demands facing Virginia’s landscapes are growing and Virginia needs to increase the scale and speed of its conservation efforts.
Land & Wildlife Conservation Recap: 2026 Bill Outcomes
Virginia Conservation Network advocated for 20 bills this General Assembly session that protect native species, support wildlife corridors, fund land conservation and outdoor recreation programs, and more.
Bill of the Day: Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act
A lack of dedicated funding is putting our public lands at risk. The Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act would provide the necessary funding needed to continue protecting our public lands.
Bill of the Day: Oak Hill State Park
VCN is supporting efforts to create Oak Hill State Park, a new state park in Loudoun County.
Bill of the Day: Protecting Virginia’s Great Outdoors
VCN advocates for Virginia's Great Outdoor Act to support efforts in increasing conservation and outdoor recreation funding.
Opinion: The James is healthier today, but our work isn’t finished
Virginia should boldly recommit to the collaborative, multistate effort and vision of a renewed Chesapeake Bay Agreement. In an Op-Ed, VCN highlights how our beloved local waters depend on the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to improve water quality.
How to Celebrate Great Outdoors Month
Virginians show us how they celebrate Great Outdoors Month by sharing photos through our Conservation Photo Contest.
RESOURCES
Land Conservation in Virginia StoryMap
Our Virginia Outdoors released a StoryMap providing an overview of land conservation and funding efforts and ways to further invest in Virginia's outdoors.
Report: State Policy Leadership To Conserve Nature
The Center for American Progress (CAP) and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) released a report reviewing a variety of land conservation policy models that have been adopted at the state level, highlighting recent examples of each.
Resource Guide: Creating Walkable Piedmont Communities
Piedmont Environmental Council and the Coalition for Smarter Growth released a guidebook for local governments and stakeholders to implement projects to promote walkable communities.
Multi-Use Trails Initiative Report
See the Multi-Use Trail Initiative, a report on multi-use trail master planning, prioritization, and funding.
