Conservation in the News     

STAUNTON, VA, February 15, 2010 -- In celebration of 20 successful years of land conservation, the Valley Conservation Council (VCC) announces the creation of a new endowment fund with The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.

Through its work as the Valley’s private land trust, the Valley Conservation Council makes a perpetual commitment to conserving land. "Like the Community Foundation, Valley Conservation Council is here for the long haul. The creation of this endowment will help to ensure that voluntary land conservation remains strong in the region for generations to come," says John Eckman, VCC Executive Director. “The fund offers local philanthropists an opportunity to focus on the natural and rural heritage of our region.”

"Keeping our beautiful and productive farm and forest lands intact for the future is not only good for the rivers, soils, and animals, it also helps protect the core of our major industries--farming, forestry, and tourism," explains Eckman.

Becky Kohler, President / CEO of the Community Foundation, says her Board is pleased with the new partnership. “This is the first fund at the Foundation with an conservation focus. We are committed to helping donors with various charitable interests develop their own tailored philanthropic plan. This fund compliments our long track record with health and human services, education, and arts and culture by adding an option for environmentally oriented philanthropy.”

For more information about the Valley Conservation Council, please contact VCC Executive Director John Eckman at (540) 886-3541. To inquire about making a gift to the VCC Endowment Fund, contact Becky Kohler, President/CEO of the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge at (540) 213-2150.

Landowners Push Land Conservation Over the 100,000 Acre Mark

In 2008, the Shenandoah Valley region served by Valley Conservation Council (VCC) reached a milestone exceeding 100,000 acres of private land permanently conserved through conservation easements. Last year continued to be a banner year with VCC helping landowners protect more than 4,500 acres in an eleven county area. VCC worked with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to preserve 14 properties. VCC also independently accepted four additional conservation easements filling an important role as the private land trust serving the entire valley region.

“We’ve reached a real benchmark with more and more private landowners deciding that conservation is important for their family lands,” said John Eckman, Valley Conservation Council’s Executive Director. “Private conservation continues to increase, and last year was no exception."

Landowners enter into voluntary land protection agreements, known as conservation easements, allowing for agricultural uses but restricting commercial and residential development. These agreements help keep land intact, maintain rural areas, preserve habitat for wildlife, and protect water quality by requiring good stewardship along stream banks. Last year, Congress renewed a program giving farmers and other land owners additional tax benefits for a longer period of time when conserving their properties. The benefits are set to expire at the end of 2009 unless they are approved once again.

Rockbridge, Botetourt, and Bath counties ranked second, third, and fourth in the amount of land conserved in 2008 with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), the primary holder of conservation easements in Virginia.

• Read the release for Augusta and Rockingham Counties (ms word file)
• Read the release for Alleghany, Highland, Bath and Botetourt counties (ms word file)
• Read the release for Rockbridge County (ms word file)
• Read the release for Shenandoah County (ms word file)

VCC and Six Other Groups Join I-81 Lawsuit

• February 15, 2008 Press Release
• VCC's John Eckman interviewed about I-81 on: WVIR NBC-29 and WHSV TV-3
• Hear John and Shenandoah Valley Network's Megan Gallagher discuss the suit on the Augusta Free Press Show, www.augustafreepress.com
• Read coverage in the Northern Virginia Daily, Feb. 16, 2008
• Green Groups Bolster I-81 Suit in Harrisonburg's Daily News Record , Feb. 25, 2008
• Details on the lawsuit and other background at the Shenandoah Valley Network
• Official VDOT website at www.I-81.org
• Harrisonburg Bypass information at Community Alliance for Preservation