Vermont’s forests, farms, wildlife, and waters are at the core of what so many of us value about our state, whether that’s working a sugarbush, hiking in a town forest or spending time on the land in so many other ways. Vermonters care about our natural resources. Even with so much in common, how we protect critical resources and how we go about designing solutions matters. 

Coming into this legislative session, VNRC called for a delay in implementation of key aspects of Act 181 to give more time for public engagement and to address important concerns that were being raised about early drafts of the regulations – including from our staff, who had envisioned these policies being implemented in more narrow and targeted ways. We’ve spent much of the past year engaging in the Act 181 stakeholder process and having conversations with a wide range of Vermonters about these issues. As a result, we have explored a variety of ways to proactively narrow the scope of the regulations, and address other important concerns.

However, over the past couple of weeks, it’s become clear that the rollout of several Act 181 provisions (notably the road rule and Tier 3) has fundamentally broken trust with too many Vermonters. Lawmakers are taking this feedback seriously, as they should. 

VNRC supports taking a new approach to address the protection of Vermont’s most critical natural resources and ensure that healthy forests remain intact. We support starting statewide conversations about how to ensure a resilient and healthy future for Vermont’s landscape and communities. We believe this requires setting aside the current iteration of Tier 3 and the road rule, so we can build solutions for a healthy environment and resilient communities from the ground up, ensuring those who are impacted the most are more deeply involved in the process.

Some landowners, rural communities, farmers, foresters, and conservation advocates have felt unheard at various moments throughout this process. Important concerns were raised that must be addressed, and many people felt they were not being adequately addressed through the Land Use Review Board’s current process. 

We do need to acknowledge that in addition to the many legitimate concerns people have been raising for many months, we’ve also seen a small number of people actively spreading disinformation, stoking fear, and resorting to vitriolic personal and organizational attacks. We cannot afford to let the divisiveness that is all too present in our national politics take hold in Vermont. We believe the path forward must be based on the ability of Vermonters to respectfully come to the table with constructive ideas so that we can find common ground around land management. 

The work ahead of us is critical. Vermont’s environmental challenges — including habitat and biodiversity loss, forest fragmentation, the loss of climate resilience, and the high costs of poorly planned growth — have not gone away. If anything, they are more urgent than ever. 

Fortunately, we can build on our shared love of our land. We are committed to this next phase of work, grounded in robust public engagement. We are eager to ensure community voices, including rural landowners and working lands stakeholders, are actively helping shape solutions. We believe that conservation and a thriving rural economy go hand in hand. We believe that building the housing Vermont needs and protecting the landscapes that define us can both be done well. But getting there requires trust, and trust has to be built through listening, respect, and empowerment.

The hard problems of how we grow, how we steward our land, and how we ensure that solutions to protect critical resources are equitable and effective, require all of us at the table. That means conservation organizations, planners, farmers, foresters, housing advocates, landowners, and community members — including those who have been left out of these conversations — must come together. It means exploring regulatory tools, incentives, and other strategies. It means honest dialogue and an openness to thinking differently. It means honoring the science while also honoring the people who live and work on the land every day.

VNRC was founded more than 60 years ago by farmers and foresters to protect Vermont’s natural resources and working lands. We remain steadfastly dedicated to this work, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. The natural resources we protect today are the foundation every future Vermonter will rely upon. VNRC is committed to being a constructive partner in getting this right.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reach out and engage in this important issue — it’s been inspiring to see democracy in action. We are confident we can shape a healthy and resilient Vermont together. Please stay engaged!

-The VNRC Team