It may surprise you to learn that there has never been an attempt in West Virginia to establish a dedicated state land-conservation fund. That means that our chapter, in working with the state legislature, the governor and partners to establish such a fund, is making history. Our work behind the scenes this summer and fall has brought us even closer to our goal.

The Voluntary Farmland Protection Act laid the groundwork for our current efforts by generating local resources for conservation. The historic nature of this undertaking is exciting, but it also means we may face a difficult road. It is not unusual for states to try for several years before state conservation funds are established.

Overcoming Challenges

The Conservancy has never shied away from a challenge, especially when it will bring such important conservation results. If successful, a state fund would enable the permanent protection of vital wildlife habitat, natural areas, farmland and forestland, including lands important for recreation, through fee and conservation easement acquisitions. In the last few years, thousands of acres of forestland have gone up for sale. But with almost no state funds available for conservation, we cannot easily seize these opportunities.

“It’s not just about securing funding for land conservation,” says Beth Wheatley, West Virginia’s director of government relations. “It’s about making land conservation a priority for West Virginia and giving the state and communities the resources to be able to protect land that is important to them.”

Working in Partnership

And the land is important to West Virginians. Polling has shown that the beauty of the state’s mountains, rivers and forests is the highest-ranking factor in determining what residents like best about living here. The broad range of partners that have gotten behind the Conservancy and this effort—hunting and fishing groups, members of the farmland protection community, and land trusts—demonstrates the depth and breadth of support for the creation of a state land conservation fund. And business leader, like Ben Hardesty of Dominion Resources, Inc., and Dave Gerhardt of MeadWestvaco Corporation, have testified before the state’s Joint Commission on Economic Development on the importance of land conservation to the economy.

All this support means that a movement is growing here in West Virginia and we are optimistic that, in the long term, we will be successful. But all movements take time and effort. We are busy collaborating with the legislature, the governor and our partners to develop the framework for a successful state land conservation fund and hope that legislation will be introduced during the January 2008 session.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): © Beth Wheatley/TNC (Members of WV's Joint Commission on Economic Development at Harewood); © Beth Wheatley/TNC (Landowner Walter Washington discusses conservation of his family’s land with members of the Joint Committee on Economic Development).