Save the Date!

In June 2023 the Vermont Legislature passed the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act (Act 59). This act calls for a statewide conservation plan that maintains an ecologically functional landscape that sustains biodiversity, strengthens communities, and upholds Vermont’s historic pattern of compact villages surrounded by farmland and natural areas.

After eighteen months of inventorying, studying, and community input, an expanded draft Conservation Plan framework has been developed by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB), and they are seeking public input before it is finalized and sent to the state legislature in June.

To ensure that Grand Isle County voices are included in this final round of community input, Grand Isle County Natural Resources Conservation District and South Hero Land Trust are hosting a hybrid listening session on Wednesday, March 26, time TBD, focused on collecting input on the draft pathways and actions that most directly relate to our unique landscape and communities in Grand Isle County.

We will provide background information on the history of the law, the current draft plan, and the key actions that could impact our county, so that you can come prepared to share your input and perspectives to inform implementation of Act 59.

Learn more about the plan here: vhcb.org/conservation/act-59

Stay tuned for more info coming soon!