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Guiding Municipalities to Implement Act 171


VNRC played a key role in advocating for Act 171, which was enacted in 2016 to promote strategies to maintain intact forests in Vermont. It requires municipalities and regional planning commissions to identify areas that are important as forest blocks and habitat connectors and to plan for development in these areas to minimize forest fragmentation.

In collaboration with the Agency of Natural Resources and the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, we helped to develop an Act 171 planning guide that gives municipalities concrete guidance on how to maintain forest blocks and wildlife connectivity areas. Find it here.

With our partners, VNRC also developed a series of webinars to educate municipalities and regional planners on how communities can reduce forest fragmentation through land use planning. We continue to reach hundreds of planners and town officials through these webinars.

VNRC has assisted many towns in Vermont, such as Marlboro, Jericho, Bolton, Marshfield, Huntington, Richmond, Enosburg, and Montgomery, to implement land use strategies to better support animal habitats, maintain habitat connectivity, and reduce forest fragmentation. Our technical assistance helps conservation and planning commissions turn their vision into tangible strategies to maintain important natural resource at the local and landscape level.

Our Victories

Honey bee closeup on sunflower

Protecting Pollinators from Harmful Pesticides

Solar Panel on flooded field

Improving Flood Resilience

VCV's Executive Director, Lauren Hierl, speaks at the launch of the Make Big Oil Pay campaign in Burlington

Making Big Oil Pay

Solar panels and sun reflection under dramatic sky

Committing to 100% Renewable Electricity by 2035

Girl drinking water

Removing Lead Fixtures from Schools

State house in fall with people on lawn

Furthering Environmental Justice

Advancing the Global Warming Solutions Act

Removing Derelict Dams

Strengthening Act 250

VNRC has been very effective in creating change in this area.

Fighting PFAS and Toxic Contamination

Protecting the Land and Views at Exit 4

Forming and Supporting Energy Committees

Protecting the LaPlatte River Marsh Wetlands

Ensuring Clean Streams at Jay Peak

Promoting Statewide Dam Safety

Preserving Downtown Bennington

Convening the Forest Roundtable

Creating Statewide Precedent on Biomass Electricity

Protecting Black Bear Habitat at Parker’s Gore

Securing Clean Water Funding

Maintaining Current Use

Banning Billboards

Declaring Groundwater a Public Trust