This report has been prepared in accordance with and fulfills the requirements of § 10.1-1018.1 of the Code of Virginia, which instructs the Chairman of the Board of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation to submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and report of the interim activity and work of the Board on or before December 15 of each year. The document shall report on the status of VLCF and its Fund, including, but not limited to (i) land conservation targeting tools developed for the Foundation; (ii) descriptions of projects that received funding; (iii) a description of the geographic distribution of land protected as provided in § 10.1-1021.1; (iv) expenditures from, interest earned by, and financial obligations of the Fund; and (vi) progress made toward recognized state and regional land conservation goals.

The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (Foundation or VLCF) serves an important land conservation mission in the Commonwealth. It leverages state funds through matching grants and partnerships to protect working farms and forests, historic lands, cultural resources, open space and parks, and natural areas. The Foundation’s distinctive features include a cross-cutting grant review process to maximize conservation values of funded projects, an inter-agency staff review team that involves expertise from multiple state agencies, and a final review by a diverse Board of Trustees whose membership includes appointees from the Governor, Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Senate of Virginia.

This document provides a status report for grants awarded by VCLF and an update on related land conservation activities.