Environmental Finance Center

Getting Started

Objectives

Click on the phrases below to view the specific objective on the "Getting Started" page.

Create organizational structure
Encourage community involvement
Gather technical experts
Conduct community assessments
Apply for initial funding
Draft conceptual plan
Construct a demonstration trail
Broaden the scope
Outline long term commitment

Create organizational structure

A basic organizational structure should be created to handle the responsibilities of clarifying goals, prioritizing tasks and assigning the workload associated with greenway implementation.

There are three options for a basic organizational structure:

A public entity, such as a committee within city government
A private entity, such as a nonprofit organization or alliance
A public-private entity such as a board or commission given authority by the city

PUBLIC ENTITY

If the idea for greenways originates within local government, public management of initial implementation is an obvious place to start. The public committee, agency or initial efforts will need to focus on garnering public support and securing initial funding.

Charles Little, the author of Greenways for America and a much-quoted expert on the subject, makes the case that greenways handled primarily by municipal governments are best served by a person or entity outside the typical service departments. This helps reduce conflicts of interest among government departments.

If funding is available, the governing body can establish a Greenway Commission with authority and budgetary means to accomplish its goals. On a smaller scale, a single staff member—a Greenway Coordinator—could allocate all of his or her time to the effort. Even working part-time, a dedicated staff member can do much to promote a greenway.

Whether or not a local government has funding for a staff member, it can begin by establishing a Greenway Committee. Staff representing relevant municipal departments can be in contact on a regular basis to determine, assign and review tasks for implementation.

To carry out administrative tasks assigned by the Committee, and as an interim solution until funding is acquired for permanent staff, Committee members might consider arranging for an Intern to assist them free of charge.

Transitioning from an Intern to a part-time or full-time Greenway Coordinator should be an immediate goal of the Committee. Even a Greenway Coordinator will require support from an internal Committee.

Steps to Action

Establish a Greenway Committee comprised of municipal officials. For example, in a City, representatives from the following departments might be included:

Set a schedule committing the group to weekly conference calls and monthly meetings.
Set a schedule to report committee progress to the City Manager’s office and City Council on a regular basis.
Hire an intern. Look for interns at local higher education institutions. Programs that might have interested students include:

PRIVATE ENTITY

For many successful greenways, the greenway concept originated with engaged citizen advocates. If the idea originated within local government, citizens might believe the governmental administration is handling the process and does not need their help. Stimulating a grassroots effort is crucial to successful greenway implementation.

After establishing an internal structure to manage greenway implementation, local government should promote the establishment of an external, community-based greenway organization.

The organization might be a new nonprofit “Friends of the Greenway” group or it might be a Greenway Alliance formed by established nonprofits with relevant interests. Establishing a new nonprofit requires much time and commitment. If an Alliance can be formed, it may be the faster route to actual implementation of a greenway.

Steps to Action

Actively seek out and cultivate relationships with individuals and organizations most interested and available to participate in and lead a Friends group.
Catalogue and promote city resources available to a nonprofit or volunteer group (i.e., meeting space, materials, expertise).
Brainstorm marketing materials such as name and a logo. Determine if there is pro bono assistance within the community to help develop these materials.
Consider encouraging the community connected online to establish a membership format (perhaps with dues) and to meet regularly. A membership organization takes much time and effort; only encourage membership if it appears to be a vital step and there is sufficient leadership to maintain it.
Assist a developing Friends group with incorporation into a nonprofit—if so needed—by directing interested parties to legal tools and resources.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

Make connections by bringing relevant organizations together. This may include not only local but regional organizations. Some types of organizations to consider:

Regional

Community Foundations
Planning District Commission (www.cspdc.org)
Shenandoah RC&D
Local Land Trusts (Valley Conservation Council – www.vcc.org)
Virginia Outdoors Foundation (Regional Office)

Local

Community Service Boards
Health Foundations
Museums
Chambers of Commerce
Historic Preservation Organizations and Foundations
Watershed Protection groups
Educational institutions
Neighborhood or Property Associations
Cycling, Running, Hiking Club
Rehabilitation Centers

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Encourage community involvement

The key to successful implementation of a greenway is to have a voting constituency backing the effort. Citizens of the community needs plenty of opportunities to learn about the benefits of greenways and to be part of the planning process. Allow residents to provide feedback for a Concept or Master Plan, and adjust the plan’s goals and proposed routes in accordance with community-defined needs, concerns and priorities. Community interest in greenways and buy-in to the basic goals of a greenway corridor are essential to the corridor’s success.

Steps to Action

Create a Master Contact List

Build a list of community groups and volunteer organizations include all interested stakeholders.
Main the list by keeping contact information up-to-date.

Call community group leaders directly.

Direct them to any planning documents online.
Ask to add their information to the Master Contact List to receive updates via phone or email or mail.
Ask for referrals to other individuals or organizations that might be interested in greenways.
Extend an offer to meet with the group and discuss greenways.

Present the greenway concept to community groups. Create an aggressive schedule of such meetings to build momentum for greenway support.
Use available multimedia to present the greenway concept:

The video “Greenways: America’s Natural Connections – A Video Primer” is available for $20 from the Conservation Fund. Purchasing information is available on the Fund’s website at www.conservationfund.org/node/482. Buy five or more and each video will cost $15.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources funded a documentary project called Greenways: The Way to Go to highlight the many economic, recreation and conservation benefits of greenways in that state. The video is available for $21.95 online: www.greentreks.org/documentaries/greenways/greenways.asp.

Create a brief PowerPoint to follow presentation of the video. The presentation should cover direct benefits to the municipality and provide case studies of regional greenway efforts and successes.
Download fact sheets on the benefits of trails and greenways offered by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), available online at: www.railstrails.org/whatwedo/railtrailinfo/benefits.html.
Create a large, presentation-style map of the proposed greenway. Emphasize that it is a conceptual network of trails. Make the trail routes very general—abstract even—and note that they are proposed routes only. The map should focus on hubs of interest rather than on the specific routes to connect these hubs. Showing community members an early trail through their neighborhood could provoke a negative reaction and give them the opportunity to rally against the greenway before they are better informed of its benefits.
Present to a wide range of groups, including:

Bicycling, hiking, walking, running, equestrian and related outdoor activity clubs.
Members of environmental organizations (e.g., Sierra Club).
Service clubs such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lion and Lioness, Moose, Eagles, etc.
Youth service and volunteer organizations such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Homeowner, neighborhood, and property associations.
Chamber of commerce and Business Improvement District associations.
Employees of local companies and small business associations.
Realtor associations.
Public schools and private educational institutions, particularly environmental science classes or departments.

Start an online community of interested parties.

Establish a website to share information about the greenway effort.
Give the greenway website prominence on the local municipality’s website by putting a link to it on the main webpage.
Clearly outline the goals for the greenway on the site and solicit support. Update the site regularly with planning documents, news releases, and events, etc.
Share a calendar showing which community groups are scheduled to see a greenway presentation. Offer a link to at least one greenway success story.
Offer links to local websites or blogs that mention the greenway effort.
Allow feedback to the website to be visible to the public. This allows users to respond to feedback from other community members and create a discussion thread. Carefully monitor the thread to respond to negative feedback and remove unrelated commentary.
Solicit email addresses to receive a monthly greenway updates.
Send a simple monthly email update to the Master Contact List.

Promote coverage of greenway efforts via various media

Create a Case Statement as a brochure or fact sheet for your specific project.
Distribute brochures or fact sheets to local businesses and city service centers.
Send brochures to community relations representatives at large businesses (for inclusion in company newsletters).
Develop a media information packet regarding the benefits and purposes of greenways and include your project brochure or fact sheet in the packet.
Develop and disseminate press releases for important milestones, such as significant funding secured, political and community approvals, and final design.
Place an ad for the greenway effort and its website in local newspapers and magazines and community newsletters.

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Gather Technical Experts

Various organizations have experience with greenway and trail planning—consult them very early on in the planning process. These organizations might be governmental, nongovernmental or private sector-based.

Steps to Action

Let technical assistance organizations know about your interest in building a greenway, and invite them to visit the proposed site. A visit allows them to assess the strengths of the site, identify the challenges it faces, and possibly suggest alternate routes.
Request presentations by consultants to the local governmental authority or Greenway Committee. Consider other greenway committees and volunteer groups as “experts” as well. Site visits to municipalities that have established a greenway successfully can be especially valuable during the planning stage. These communities should be able to identify the technical experts most helpful to them.
Hold a planning workshop between the Greenway Committee and individuals from various assistance organizations. Outline the various types of assistance required and identify the best partners for each type of assistance. If any organization makes a commitment of resources, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) should clearly outline the resources to be committed.

Contact the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program (www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca). RTCA is the community assistance arm of the National Park Service. This program provides expertise and experience to help “communities achieve on-the-ground conservation successes for their projects.” Schedule a field visit by RTCA staff; they can recommend next steps and will advise as to whether the municipality is ready for further assistance.

Contact:

Wink Hastings (whastings@chesapeakebay.net, 410-267-5787), in the Annapolis office of RTCA, is the contact for efforts in Maryland and Virginia.
Ursula Lemanski (Ursula_Lemanski@nps.gov, 703-431-7728) is associated with the Philadelphia office of RTCA, but works out of northern Virginia. She has particular expertise in greenways.

Assistance lasts one year; may be extended for a second year.
Deadline: August 1 for assistance beginning the following fiscal year (October 1 through September 30).
Eligibility: Nonprofits, community groups, and local, state or federal government agencies.
Before getting involved, RTCA wants to see a commitment to significant public involvement and outreach, plus evidence of broad support for the project. RTCA looks for projects with “specific, partner-defined goals” and expects “roles and contributions of project partners” to be “substantive and well-defined.”

RTCA has a five-year partnership with the Association of Landscape Architects (ASLA). RTCA invites local ASLA chapters to help with planning and logistics on projects, and the chapters ask their members if they would like to participate. These landscape architects offer pro bono services for up-front planning and establish relationships with project members that often lead to further collaboration.

Contact the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (www.railstrails.org).

RTC assists the trails and greenways movement by “providing the information, technical assistance and training that local trail builders need to succeed.”
RTC’s has regional and state-based field offices that can “sponsor workshops, negotiate grant and funding acquisition, rally state and local political leaders, reach out to community members, and liaison with railroads and other companies to advance community trail-building efforts.”
Trail Development Assistance Response Team (TrailDART). TrailDART is a for-hire service of RTC. The program “offers full service assistance to communities in all aspects of trail building from initial consultation to laying the groundwork for trails through trail development and beyond.” Services include: Land Acquisition Assistance, Corridor Inventory and Assessment, Corridor Mapping, Feasibility Analysis, Alternatives Analysis, Development of Concept Plans, Facilitation of Public Involvement. Training Workshops and Public Presentations, Creation of Trail Management Plans.
Contact: RTC National Office (covers Virginia): 1100 17th Street, NW, 10th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036, 202-331-9696.

Contact The Trust for Public Land (www.tpl.org).

Center for Conservation Finance and Technical Assistance Services
www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=20553&folder_id=3132
Conservation Finance Expert Team.
www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=20556&folder_id=3132

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Conduct Community Assessments

Various stakeholders and user groups need a chance to provide feedback during the planning stage of any greenway or trail.
Stakeholders may include government decision-makers, the City’s voting constituency, owners of property adjacent to the trail, business interests and nonuser advocates.
User groups may include walkers and runners, cyclists, equestrians, pet owners, bird-watchers, educators, and people with disabilities.
Surveys and forums can inventory resources, address needs and concerns, and reconcile competing interests.
Conduct a survey of local officials.

This survey should be fairly brief (about ten questions) and can be administered over the phone. Results should be compiled and analyzed anonymously.
The survey should seek insight as to the current political climate, conservation priorities and public spending patterns.
The survey should air and document the concerns of key officials so that these concerns can be addressed.

Hold two to three public forums

Consider allowing a qualified consultant to lead these forums.
Present any planning documents and solicit feedback.
Inventory and address community questions and concerns.
Carefully analyze who attends the forums. This will identify the biggest allies as well as groups that might need more information, attention or persuasion.

Conduct a community survey.

Set a timeline for surveying and analyzing the results.
Compare survey results to recommendations made in any planning documents.
The Appomattox Heritage and Recreational Trail Plan includes one example of a successful survey and the response it elicited (See Links).

Consider conducting a public-opinion poll.

A poll can provide statistically accurate information regarding interest and commitment to the greenway network, and it can reveal which public financing options a community might approve for greenways and trails.
The Trust For Public Land (www.tpl.org) can advise on structuring an effective poll.

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Apply for Inital Funding

As you generate sufficient internal and external momentum for the greenway, you will need to consider how to pay for the first phase of design and construction!
In the best-case scenario, the municipality is able to devote seed money to a capital improvements fund to pay for a portion of the first phase. An allocation of local governmental resources is a major signal to federal, state and private funders that there is significant commitment to a greenway to warrant further investment in the effort.
It is important to have someone dedicated to completing grant applications and following up on the requirements of potential funders.
But, don’t just apply for grants! Many of the largest grants for building greenways are from federal funding sources. Securing federal grants requires extensive paperwork to prove compliance with many layers of regulation. Federal grants often require matching funds, preferably secured from local sources. Furthermore, federal monies are subject to the intentions of Congress and the Executive office; it is not a given that program funds will be available each year.
A funding strategy should be developed. This strategy should be tailored to the goals for the first phase of greenway, but consider longer-term goals as well. It should consider local and small-scale fundraising opportunities, partnerships with various private entities (such as building developers), and public financing tools as well as large public and private grants.
As for grants, maximize leveraging capability by determining the proportion of grants monies that should come from each type of funding source. Do not rely too heavily on any one source! The Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission in Roanoke, VA, had a private consultant review its greenway funding history. The consultant recommended that private giving cover 25% of costs and localities contribute 50%, leaving federal and state sources to cover the final 25% of costs. A similar funding balance strategy could be developed as potential funding sources are examined. Significant federal funding and support for trails and intermodal transportation began with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, which was reauthorized as the Transportation Equity Act of 1998 (TEA21).
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) expanded on the previous legislation in 2005. SAFETEA-LU is the current legislation governing surface transportation funds that may be spent on intermodal transportation solutions. Programs that disburse surface transportation funds include the Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program, Recreational Trails Program (RTP), Transportation, Community & System Preservation (TCSP) Program, and the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program.
The Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program has provided the largest source of federal monies for greenways. The program requires that all partners—including design firms and other consultants—comply with federal regulations, and the funds have a long lifespan for implementation. Apply for TE funds as early as possible.

Please see the financing greenways section for a more complete list of funding sources and tools

Federal grant monies (usually administered by state departments):

EPA, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) – Five-Star Restoration Program.

Website: www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/.
Amount: $5,000 - $20,000.
Deadline: Estimated between March and June 2008.
Eligibility: Partnerships, including nonprofits, corporations, schools, community organizations, and public agencies.
Contact: Myra Price, USEPA Wetlands Division, 202-566-1225, price.myra@epa.gov.

Website: www.virginiadot.org/projects/pr-enhancegrants.asp.
Amount: $40,000 - $1,000,000. Reimbursement program; grants require a 20% match. Deadline: November 1, 2007, for FY 2008–2009.
Eligibility: Local governments, state and federal agencies, non-profits partnered with a local government.
Contact: VDOT Local Assistance Division for technical assistance: 800-444-7832, enhancementprogram@vdot.virginia.gov.

www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/ted_Rt2_school_pro.asp
Amount: The VA SRTS program has approximately $13.5 million for FY 2005 – FY 2009.
Deadline: End of June and end of December 2008.
Eligibility: Community organizations and nonprofits as co-applicants with a school, local public works or transportation authority. Project grants require a resolution of support from local government.
Contact: Jakob Hemboldt, Interim SRTS Coordinator, Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership www.saferoutesinfo.org.
Overview: Created by section 1404 of SAFETEA-LU in 2005 to improve the ability of primary and middle school students to walk and bicycle safely to school.

Recreational Trail Program

www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational_planning/trailfnd.shtml

synthia.waymack@dcr.virginia.gov

jennifer.wampler@dcr.virginia.gov

Virginia Outdoors Fund (VOF) Grant Program.

www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational_planning/vof.shtml

synthia.waymack@dcr.virginia.gov

Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Assistance Grants

www.dof.virginia.gov/urban/index.shtml

revellp@dof.state.va.us

Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS) – Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC)

http://cdac.arch.vt.edu/

egilboy@vt.edu

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Draft Conceptual Plan

Coming Soon

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Construct a Demonstration Trail

A demonstration trail should be a short (approximately one mile), easily accessible stretch of multi-use trail. The trail should cater to as many users as possible to maximize the chance that significant usage will occur after completion. Building the trail on public land will avoid many of the costs associated with acquiring land, easements or other right-of-ways.

A demonstration trail should be chosen carefully to show the public the opportunities for connection that a greenway offers. That means the demonstration trail directly connects two or more locations where citizens want to see a connection.

Promotional and fundraising events can be held at or near the demo trail, and greenway advocates can reference the demo as the first achievement for what is sure to be a successful greenway.

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Broaden the Scope

Additional funding opportunities are best realized by broadening the scope of a greenway. Many people associate greenways with trails only, but greenways can have many other purposes.

Take a look at local and regional planning efforts, such as water and air quality improvement, watershed protection and conservation, youth education and safety, and stormwater management and flood control.

Instead of focusing on grants available for specific funding of greenways and multi-use trails, grants funding these other planning efforts may be sought, and projects associate with the greenway may have goals other than recreational ones.

Consider the following planning documents:

City and county comprehensive plans
Transportation plans
Parks and Open Space plans
Central Shenandoah Valley Greenway Plan
Stormwater Management Plans
TMDL for Aquatic Life
Bike/Ped plans

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Outline Long Term Commitment

STEPS TO ACTION

Develop an organizational framework and leadership and members capable of long-term fund-raising and maintenance of established greenways.

The National Trails and Training Partnership of American Trails lists skills needed for organizational development for trails and greenways work: www.americantrails.org/nttp/skills/organization.html. The same page has a list of training courses and other resources to educate members and build capacity.

Consider public financing strategies for land acquisition for greenways. Public financing might include:

Property or sales and use taxes
Real estate transfer taxes
Impact fees (e.g., stormwater fees)
Special assessments
Business Improvement Districts
General obligation or revenue bonds

Find an organization to hold titles or easements donated to or purchased for greenways, and engage the services of a qualified consultant who can offer expertise on land acquisition. Consult these resources:

The Virginia Outdoors Fund (www.virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.org).

The mission of VOF is "to promote the preservation of open space lands and to encourage private gifts of money, securities, land or other property to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, open-space and recreational areas of the Commonwealth.”

Conservation easements are the primary mechanism by which VOF accomplishes this mission.
VOF is governed and administered by a board of trustees appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth. A portion of the Foundation’s operating expenses is an appropriation from the General Assembly.
VOF holds easements on over 400,000 acres in 98 local jurisdictions. In the Shenandoah Valley region, VOF holds more than 42,000 acres of private land and protects another 125,000 acres via forestal and agricultural districts.
Contact: Laura Thurman, Easement Specialist, Staunton VOF Office, 11 East Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 24401, 540-886-2460, lthurman@vofonline.org.

Open Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund (OSLPTF) (www.virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.org/VOF_land-ptf.php).

The General Assembly created the OSLPTF (VA code Sections 10.1801-2) in 1997 to assist landowners with costs of conveying conservation easements.
The fund provides grants that reimburse a portion of the costs of donation (e.g., legal or appraisal costs) or purchase all or part of the value of the easement. Priority is given to applicants who own or operate a family farm, demonstrate financial need, or seek cost-only reimbursement projects.
Applications for assistance are reviewed twice a year. Applications documents are available online in Word format.

Valley Conservation Council (VCC) (www.valleyconservation.org).

VCC “promotes land use that sustains the farms, forests, open spaces, and cultural heritage of the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.” It is a member-supported, private, nonprofit land trust founded in 1990.
VCC works with VOF and other partners to help private landowners complete conservation projects using conservation easements and other tools.
VCC is a member of the national Land Trust Alliance (see Appendix C).
Contact: John Eckman, Executive Director, 17 Barristers Row, Staunton VA 24401, 877-216-1782 or 540-886-3541, info@valleyconservation.org.

Land Trust of Virginia (LTVA) (www.landtrustva.org).

LTVA works to permanently protect irreplaceable natural resources in Virginia by assisting property owners with conservation easements, monitoring land under easement, and working with local communities to identify and preserve important resources.
LTVA has a protection program that works with local governments “that are interested in constructing an easement policy or working together on projects and co-holding the resultant easements.”
Contact: Art Campbell, Executive Director, 7260 Rectors Lane, Marshall, Virginia 20115, (540) 687-8441, emaillandtrustva@earthlink.net.

Establish a fund to accept monies donated to the greenway network.

The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge could provide for the creation of a permanent endowment fund for long-term support of greenways.

Previously the SAW Community Foundation, the mission of CFCBR is “to enrich the quality of life by responding to needs and inspiring philanthropy in our community.” That community includes Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta, Nelson and Highland Counties. CBCFR is “dedicated to the management, growth and distribution of funds as awards, scholarships and grants to the community each year.”
www.communityfoundationcbr.org.
Contact: P.O. Box 815, Staunton, Virginia 24402-0815, 540.213.2150, Communityfoundationcbr@yahoo.com.

Use income from donations to provide long-term funding.
The Conservation Fund (www.conservationfund.org).

The Conservation Fund provides comprehensive conservation services to diverse entities, including local government.
Contact: National Office, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300, Arlington, Virginia 22209-2156, 703-525-6300, postmaster@conservationfund.org.
Land Advisory Services

D.R. Horne & Company, the Land Advisory Services arm of the Conservation Fund, is a real estate consulting firm that provides strategic land planning, asset management and development services for conservation projects. Land Advisory Services “specializes in applying principles of sustainable development to real estate projects with sensitive resources.”
Land Advisory Services “works with local municipalities, land trusts and other organizations to create exceptional places that meet quality of life goals, protect sensitive resources, build healthy and diverse communities, and address regulatory and fiduciary matters in innovative ways. Services include: Visioning, Feasibility Studies, Land Use Planning, Environmental Resource Planning, Program Development, Selection and Management of Architects and Consultants, Regulatory Assessment, Entitlement Strategies, Financial Control, Design Review, Implementation Oversight.”
Contact: Douglas Horne, Senior Associate, D.R. Horne & Company, 1655 Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300, Arlington, VA 22209, 703-908-5802.

Strategic Conservation

“Rapid Assessments: The Fund performs rapid assessments that inventory current community resources and identify conservation priorities and goals.”
“Green Infrastructure Plans: The Fund develops comprehensive green infrastructure plans that identify community stakeholders, map green space networks, and develop strategies for implementation.”
“Compatible Land Use Planning: The Fund develops partnership strategies for communities to collaborate with managers of forests, parks, refuges, military installations, and other publicly owned lands.”
Contact: William Allen, Director, Strategic Conservation Programs, wallen@conservationfund.org.

Land Trust Loan Program

“Each year, [in cooperation with the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation] the Fund provides 15 percent of its conservation capital base to land trusts as bridge financing, enabling the groups to acquire properties immediately, but raise funds over time. To date, the Fund has helped land trusts protect nearly 20,000 acres valued at more than $65 million.”
Contact: J. Reginald Hall III, Program Manager, Land Trust Loan Fund, 703-525-6300.

Nature Conservancy

www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/virginia/
Mission: “To preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.”
“The Conservancy works with a variety of partners to protect the forests, caves, rivers, and unique habitats of the Allegheny Highlands.” This includes purchasing land or interests in land and accepting donations of land or conservation easements.
Contact: 490 Westfield Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901, (434) 295-6106, or Allegheny Highlands Program, HC 1 Box 576 Warm Springs, VA 24484, (540) 839-3599, bkreps@tnc.org.