VCN’s own Mary Rafferty is featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch laying out a pathway for the Northam administration to ensure his 2020-22 budget reflects Virginia's shared priorities to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, protect our landscapes, and enhance our agencies. ...Virginia ranks 47th in budgeting for the protection and [...]
Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources released their report on commitments to enhance Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under Gov. Northam’s Executive Order 6, issued in April 2018. EO6 was was released by the Governor last year. It looked to get immediate feedback on ways to strengthen policies at the [...]
Over the course of the summer, VCN partnered with the Virginia Transit Association to host community listening sessions throughout the Commonwealth to find out how public transportation could be improved. The six sessions were hosted by Jay Fisette, former chair of the Arlington County Board, and covered a wealth of [...]
The Virginia Environmental Assembly brings together conservation leaders from across the Commonwealth to discuss our Common Agenda to protect Virginia’s natural resources. This annual conference is hosted by Virginia Conservation Network, the partnership of more than 100 Virginia environmental organizations. Each year, this conference is hosted in a different region [...]
The Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) has now released Our Common Agenda - the 2020 Environmental Briefing Book. Our Common Agenda is written by VCN’s partners - Virginia’s top conservation advocates. Published annually, it showcases the environmental community’s collective state-level policy priorities in the coming year. This book displays the breadth [...]
Today, Governor Northam declined to veto bad budget language that prevents the Commonwealth from taking bold and necessary steps to act on climate change. VCN executive director Mary Rafferty issued the following response: "We are deeply disappointed in the Governor’s decision to not use his authority to uphold his signature [...]
During their annual retreat, VCN staff members had the opportunity to visit with several Network Partners and explore some of Southeast Virginia. First up, the team took to the air from Hampton with SouthWings. Volunteer pilots Stu Bailey and Forrest Ward led VCN on a route that articulated both [...]
HENRICO, Va. - Network Partners of VCN had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) for a conservation roundtable at the Tuckahoe branch of the Henrico County Public Library. Topics of discussion included the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Clean Water budget items, HR 9, offshore drilling, [...]
On Saturday, December 1st, Virginia’s conservation community convened in multiple locations across the Commonwealth for a preview of what’s in store for our natural resources and landscapes in the 2019 General Assembly session. Traditionally, the General Assembly Preview has taken place only in Richmond. In order to better accommodate the [...]