Working Together
VNRC has enjoyed a long history as a convener in Vermont’s environmental community, providing a way for advocates, natural resource professionals, peer organizations, and many other to connect and find creative solutions to environmental challenges. Our work makes it possible for various organizations to raise awareness and coordinate with a unified voice, locally and at the State House.
VERMONT CONSERVATION VOTERS
VCV works to elect environmentally-friendly candidates to public office, and then holds elected officials accountable for the decisions they make affecting our air, water, wildlife, land, communities, and health.
Each year, VCV publishes an Environmental Common Agenda of legislative priorities, and produces an Environmental Scorecard that tracks lawmakers’ voting records on legislation regarding the environment. Learn more about VCV at vermonconservationvoters.com.
VECAN
VNRC founded and coordinates the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN), comprised of more than 100 Vermont town energy committees who lead a powerful grassroots effort to make Vermonters’ homes and communities more energy efficient. VECAN holds an annual conference in December for energy leaders, business innovators and policy makers to explore solutions for curbing climate change in Vermont. Learn more at VECAN’s website.
WATER CAUCUS
VNRC created the Water Caucus to better involve environmental advocates and watershed groups in the development and implementation of sound water policy and legislation. The Water Caucus fosters discussion and encourages engagement around a range of issues, including clean water funding, stormwater management, dam regulation, and more.
If your organization is interested in becoming a member of the Water Caucus, contact VNRC’s Policy and Water Program Director, Jon Groveman, at jgroveman@vnrc.org or 802-223-2328 x111. Learn more here.
FOREST PARTNERSHIP
VNRC is a member of the Forest Partnership, a coalition of organizations focused on the development of policy and creative funding opportunities to conserve forestland, and public awareness about the risks of increasing forest fragmentation. The Forest Partnership helps Vermont take a long-term view on the maintenance and protection of our forests.
If your organization is interested in getting involved, contact VNRC’s Forest & Wildlife Program Director, Jamey Fidel, at jfidel@vnrc.org or 802-223-2328 x117
FOREST ROUNDTABLE
Developed and convened by VNRC in 2006, the Forest Roundtable is a venue for the exchange of information relating to forest policy, and keeping Vermont’s forests as forests, with particular attention focused on addressing parcelization and forest fragmentation. Participants have included conservation groups, consulting foresters, professional planners, government officials, landowner organizations, outdoor recreation and sporting interests, representatives from the forest products industry, legislators, staff from Vermont’s congressional delegation, and researchers and professors.
TRANSPORTATION FOR VERMONTERS
Transportation for Vermonters (T4VT) is a diverse coalition of individuals, organizations, businesses and institutions committed to working together, creatively, and across sectors to achieve a sustainable, accessible transportation system in Vermont. Learn more here.
If your organization is interested in getting involved, contact VNRC’s Sustainable Communities Program Director, Kati Gallagher, at kgallagher@vnrc.org or 802-223-2328 x114.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
The National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest non-profit conservation organization, uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Learn more about NWF.
VNRC is one of 52 state and territory NWF affiliates. Through a partnership with NWF, we are empowering people to turn their backyards into thriving habitats for birds, butterflies and other wildlife in Vermont. Learn more about Certified Wildlife Habitats by clicking here.
FREE VT RIVERS
FreeVTRivers is a group of river and fish biologists, anglers, community members, freshwater advocates and conservation organizations who would like to see our rivers restored and reconnected to support thriving fish populations, improved recreational access, and a river’s natural capacity to handle flooding. Learn more at freevermonttrivers.org.
If your organization is interested in getting involved, contact VNRC’s Restoration Ecologist, Karina Dailey, at kdailey@vnrc.org or 802-223-2328 x123
ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS
The Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support Vermont’s conservation commissions and to encourage the establishment of more conservation commissions in the state. AVCC is a membership organization, with conservation commissions as well as individuals as members. Founded in 1990, AVCC is overseen by a volunteer board of directors, one of whom is appointed by VNRC. Learn more at AVCC’s website.
STAYING CONNECTED
An international collaboration, the Staying Connected Initiative (SCI) seeks to conserve, restore, and enhance landscape connectivity across the Northern Appalachian/Acadian region of the U.S. and Canada for the benefit of nature and people. Learn more at Staying Connected’s website.
FEEL GOOD HEAT
Feel Good Heat is a collaborative effort by environmental and community development non-profits, wood pellet producers, and Automated Wood Heat systems distributors across New England and New York. Together, we’re growing energy independence here at home, creating local jobs and supporting our forested landscape. Learn more at Feel Good Heat’s website.