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:
ROUNDUP: Local Leaders Oppose Gas-Fired Peaker Plant
Virginia Conservation Network Partners applaud the Central Virginia legislators for sharing a letter of opposition to the proposed gas-fired peaker plant in Chesterfield.
Report: Feeding the Plastics Industrial Complex
The Environmental Integrity Project released a report examining the disproportionate impact of 50 plastics plants on nearby vulnerable communities, including Black and Latino communities.
Bipartisan Support on Environmental Bills: Regulation of Toxics
Pat Calvert, Director of Clean Water and Land Conservation at Virginia Conservation Network, is quoted supporting a new law regualte toxic PFAS pollution.
Map: Analysis of Federal Wetlands Protection
Our Partners at EDF have developed a map exploring the potential loss of federal wetlands protections after the 2023 Supreme Court case, Sackett v EPA.
OPINION: Tree preservation: A quality of life opportunity for Virginia
Robert Benson submits a Letter To The Editor in the Virginia Mercury stating that tree preservation is important for quality of life in Virginia.
Coming Soon: Signs Warning Consumers About Invasive Plants
Pat Calvert, Director of Clean Water and Land Conservation at Virginia Conservation Network, is quoted supporting a new law to control the spread of invasive species in the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily.