LAND CONSERVATION & OUTDOOR RECREATION
Our Commitment
Protecting and making Virginia’s natural resources and outdoor recreation accessible in order to sustain the health of our families, wildlife, and water.
THE ISSUE
Virginian’s identities and quality of life are rooted in our land. We take pride in our stunning and iconic landscapes: the rugged Appalachian Mountains, fertile Piedmont, tidal rivers flowing across the coastal plain to the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia’s natural resources support local economies; form the foundation of our culture and diverse communities; and sustain the health of our people, our wildlife, and our water. But the demands facing Virginia’s landscapes are growing and Virginia needs to increase the scale and speed of its conservation efforts.
Opinion: The James is healthier today, but our work isn’t finished
Virginia should boldly recommit to the collaborative, multistate effort and vision of a renewed Chesapeake Bay Agreement. In an Op-Ed, VCN highlights how our beloved local waters depend on the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to improve water quality.
How to Celebrate Great Outdoors Month
Virginians show us how they celebrate Great Outdoors Month by sharing photos through our Conservation Photo Contest.
Land & Wildlife Conservation Recap: 2024 Policy Outcomes
Virginia Conservation Network advocated for 18 land conservation & wildlife bills this General Assembly session that protect our diminishing tree canopy, reduce invasive species, fund critical outdoor programs, and more.
Bill of the Day: Funding Virginia’s Great Outdoors
VCN is supporting efforts to increase conservation and outdoor recreation funding.
OPINION: State budget delivers for clean water and protected land
Money talks, and our bipartisan state budget reflects the values of the commonwealth. In an Op-Ed, VCN celebrates a bipartisan budget deal that allocates historic levels of funding for clean water.
Virginia Security Corridor Project Underway
The newly established Virginia Security Corridor will increase increase military preparedness, strengthen climate resilience, and support working lands while conserving natural resources.
RESOURCES
Report: State Policy Leadership To Conserve Nature
The Center for American Progress (CAP) and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) released a report reviewing a variety of land conservation policy models that have been adopted at the state level, highlighting recent examples of each.
Resource Guide: Creating Walkable Piedmont Communities
Piedmont Environmental Council and the Coalition for Smarter Growth released a guidebook for local governments and stakeholders to implement projects to promote walkable communities.
Multi-Use Trails Initiative Report
See the Multi-Use Trail Initiative, a report on multi-use trail master planning, prioritization, and funding.