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:
VCN Partnership with BlackOak Collective
VCN and BlackOak teamed up in late 2020 to help expand the pipeline of Black professionals launching careers within Virginia’s environmental movement by connecting talented Black individuals with VCN’s network of 150 conservation and climate organizations.
Support for the Governor’s Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Budget Amendment
Virginia Conservation Network supports the Governor’s Amendment #10, which directly appropriates $3.5M from the general fund for the preservation of historic tribal lands of the Chickahominy Tribe.
ROUNDUP: Conservation Community Statements on Single-Use Plastics – Executive Order 77
Round-up of statements from the conservation community on Executive Order 77, which phases out single use plastics in Virginia state government.
2021 General Assembly Wrap-Up: the State Budget
VCN's fifth and final wrap up from the 2021 general session covers how our conservation priorities fared in the 2021-2022 biennial budget conference report released by the General Assembly.
2021 General Assembly Wrap-Up: Land Use & Transportation
Virginia Conservation Network’s Wrap-Up of the 2021 General Assembly's land use and transportation policy includes legislation to advance vehicle electrification, make active transportation safer for walkers and bikers, and promote transit-oriented development.
2021 General Assembly Wrap-Up: Clean Energy & Good Government
Virginia Conservation Network’s Wrap-Up of the 2021 General Assembly's clean energy & good government policy includes legislation to improve building codes for energy efficiency, ensure funding for clean energy, and promote environmental justice.