A Year in Review: VCN’s 2022 Annual Report
Over the last year, VCN worked with our 150+ Network Partners to maintain momentum around policy gains while continuing to navigate working within the confines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The year was defined by a gubernatorial election and the infusion of federal money into the state budget. It ended with a vastly different political landscape including a new, untested Governor and a change in conservation strategy from offense to defense.
Our Annual Report reviews Virginia Conservation Network’s work from Spring 2021 to Winter 2022. 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,
- our Network Partner engagement events,
- VCN staff updates,
- …and more!
Read more of our recent updates from our blog:
Virginia Conservation Photography Contest: 2026 Winners
The votes are in - see the VCN's 2026 Virginia Conservation Photography Contest winners!
Talking Transit in Richmond
Between June and July 2026, advocates for walking, biking, and public transit were interviewed alongside community members to gain insight into their everyday experiences traveling in Richmond, Virginia without a car as well as where they see potential areas for improvement.
Migratory Fish White Paper
VCN Environmental Leadership Fellow Jackson Huff drafted a white paper highlighting declining migratory fish populations in the Chesapeake Bay.
Extending Producer Responsibility Towards Mattress Stewardship
Virginia needs an established mattress stewardship program to address environmental and waste pollution.
Report: Coming Full Circle
Clean Virginia Waterways released a report on the current state of recycling-refund programs across the United States and potential future impacts of proposed programs, including in Virginia.
Map: VDH Harmful Algal Bloom
The Virginia Department of Health maintains a regularly updated interactive map for tracking algal blooms throughout Virginia.