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:
2021 General Assembly Wrap-Up: Land Conservation & Wildlife
Virginia Conservation Network’s Wrap-Up of the 2021 General Assembly's land conservation policy includes legislation to protect conservation easements, promote wildlife corridors, and protect native plants and pollinators.
2021 General Assembly Wrap-Up: Water Conservation
Virginia Conservation Network’s Wrap-Up of the 2021 General Assembly's water conservation policy includes legislation to tackle polluted stormwater, reduce single-use plastic, and ensuring regulatory oversight of water quality in Virginia.
ROUNDUP: Conservation Community on Clean Car Standards
On Friday, February 19th, the Virginia Senate passed Delegate Bagby's HB1965 and the bill is now on its way to the Governor's desk.
Bill of the Day: Oppose Chemical Conversion (SB1164)
SB1164 will not reduce plastic waste, but instead will reduce state regulatory oversight over harmful, pollution-producing facilities, allowing them free rein to locate near Virginia's most vulnerable populations.
Bill of the Day: Environmental Justice
Two environmental justice bills, HB2074 and SB1318, build on the Virginia Environmental Justice Act of 2020, which declared environmental justice as the policy of the Commonwealth.
Bill of the Day: Gold Mining
HB2113 hits the pause button on a proposed open-pit gold mine in Buckingham County in order for state agencies to review the water quality and public health impact from this large-scale mining operation.