On Thursday, April 28th, Collin O’Mara—President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation—traveled to Richmond, VA to speak about the importance of conserving Virginia’s environment.
“Virginia is important, whether it’s clean water, climate, or wildlife. And a lot of what they do does affect the entire mid-Atlantic region, if not the entire country.” – Collin O’Mara, NWF President
From the gentle gurgle of the Chesapeake Bay to the mesmerizing hue softly hugging the Blue Ridge Mountains—it’s no surprise that Virginia is proudly called home by so many. Its beauty and culture serves as an unforgettable experience to those who visit—a sense of warmth and comfort that always welcomes back those who venture off. Virginians: We identify with our land, water, and history, which is why we go to great lengths to protect it.
Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) is a coalition of 120 environmental organizations working to create a powerful, diverse, highly-coordinated conservation movement in the Commonwealth. Each organization that we work with plays a critical role in ensuring the vitality of our state for generations to come. Our primary focus areas are clean energy, healthy rivers, and green communities. Check out a full list of our dedicated partners by clicking here.
We are excited to announce our blog kick off! This blog is committed to spreading that good ole’ Virginia love and celebrating our network’s hard-earned achievements. The focal point of VCN’s work is Virginia’s annual General Assembly session during which elected officials travel to Richmond to vote on legislation that directly affects Virginians’ quality of life. Our network partners do not take this process lightly, which is why we spend April through December carefully strategizing and preparing for the next year’s legislative session that runs from January to March.
The 2016 General Assembly session was a budget year, meaning a significant amount of our work was spent ensuring adequate funding for programs that safeguard Virginia’s future. The $60 million allocated to Virginia’s Agricultural Cost Share Program, the $20 million to the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund, and the $20 million to land conservation programs are examples that speak loudly to our overall success this year. We are thrilled that protections for our rivers, streams, battlefields, parks, and farmlands received significant funding—a sign that these resources are taken seriously by our elected officials.
In addition to preparing for and working with legislators throughout Virginia’s annual legislative session, our network organizes educational and celebratory events highlighting the environmental work being done throughout the state and country. This past Thursday, April 28th, Collin O’Mara—President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation—traveled from Delaware to Stone Brewing Company in Richmond, VA to speak to the crowd about the importance of conserving our environment. He referred to the Commonwealth as “God’s country,” a phrase that resonated well among the 120 in attendance.
Collin expressed that we have a lot to be proud of and thankful for as Virginians—the raging rivers that employ and entertain millions; the rolling farmlands that characterize ; the Blue Ridge Mountains that attract outdoor enthusiasts from across the globe; the historic battlefields that give visitors a glimpse into our country’s powerful past. These are the things that we love about our state. These are the reasons we work hard to protect Virginia’s resources and to conserve the environment for our children and our grandchildren.
Virginia Conservation Network has been dedicated to preserving Virginia’s resources since 1969.