On February 12th, the AVCC hosted an evening listening session to discuss the draft Vermont Conservation Plan (VCP), an initial, working set of proposed objectives, pathways, and actions intended to help Vermont fulfill the vision and goals set forth in the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act (Act 59), including conserving 30% of our landscape by 2030. This was an opportunity to weigh in on the plan specifically as it involves and affects the work of conservation commissions, and we were pleased to lead around thirty participants in a thoughtful and engaging conversation over Zoom.
Participants heard first from Krista Karlson, Co-Chair of the Thetford Conservation Commission, who has been representing CC perspectives on the plan’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) since the summer of 2025. Krista presented an overview of the draft plan, explained how it has evolved thanks to public and stakeholder input, and highlighted a few of the proposed pathways and actions that connect to the on-the-ground work of local conservation commissions.
In breakout discussions, attendees shared generally positive feedback about the framework’s comprehensiveness in addressing a broad range of conservation priorities. Some expressed a desire for a more succinct version with plain language better suited for a general audience. There was general consensus on the importance of centering Vermont Conservation Design (VCD) in the plan – with particular praise for the emphasis on habitat connectivity – but many commissions will require further technical assistance to translate VCD into action and take full advantage of tools like BioFinder. Participants identified areas where the document felt difficult to interpret, and questioned how certain pathways and actions would be implemented locally – and by whom. For many, the main takeaway was how challenging it will be to make choices and set priorities given the realities of limited funding and capacity; in other words, while conservation commissions may be positioned to lead on much of this work, they will need a lot of help to do it effectively. A full summary of the notes from this session will be posted by the end of March 2026.
In late January he VCP team released its Draft Expanded Framework: Objectives, Pathways and Actions, an initial, working set of proposed objections and actions intended to help Vermont meet its goal to conserve 30% of the landscape by 2030. Click on the links below to learn more and provide feedback on the three draft objectives:
➡ Draft Objective One: Center Vermont Conservation Design
➡ Draft Objective Two: Conservation for Communities
➡ Draft Objective Three: Strengthen Conservation Capacity
This past October, the Draft Framework Report was posted for public review; this report was developed using input from the summer listening sessions and contributions from the plan’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Additional feedback was gathered via survey and direct submission during a monthlong comment period following the report’s release. Summaries and documentation for all stakeholder feedback gathered to date can be found on the VCP website. The TAC has continued to meet monthly to review and refine the plan. You can find notes from the meetings or watch the recordings at https://vermontconservationplan.com/vcp/tac/.
Public listening sessions are listed below. Special stakeholder listening sessions are also being held around the state, so check in with your local RPC, NRCD, land trust and watershed group to see if there’s another event in your area.
Monday, February 2nd – South Burlington
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Delta Hotels Burlington (1117 Williston Rd, South Burlington, VT 05403)
Active CCs within 30 minutes: Bolton, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex, Ferrisburgh, Georgia, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Middlesex, Milton, Monkton, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, South Hero, Underhill, Waterbury, Westford and Williston
Monday, February 9th – Lyndonville
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Burke Mountain Room, Vermont State University, Lyndon (1001 College Rd, Lyndoville, VT 05851)
Active CCs within 30 minutes: Burke, Danville, Granby, Newark, Peacham and Sutton
Tuesday, February 17 – Montpelier
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Unitarian Church of Montpelier (130 Main St, Montpelier, VT 05602)
Active CCs within 30 minutes: Berlin, Bolton, Braintree, Brookfield, Calais, Fayston, Marshfield, Middlesex, Montpelier, Northfield, Plainfield, Stowe, Waitsfield, Waterbury and Woodbury
Monday, February 23rd – Randolph
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Vermont State University , Randolph (124 Admin Road, Randolph, VT 05061)
Active CCs within 30 minutes: Barnard, Berlin, Bethel, Braintree, Brookfield, Middlesex, Montpelier, Northfield, Randolph, Royalton, Sharon, Strafford and Tunbridge
Monday, March 2nd – Rutland
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
The Franklin Events Center (One Scale Ave, Suite 92, Rutland, VT 05701)
Active CCs within 30 minutes: Middletown Springs, Mount Holly, Tinmouth, Shrewsbury and Wallingford
Background: Passed in June 2023, the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act (also known as Act 59) establishes a statewide vision to maintain an ecologically functional landscape that sustains biodiversity, supports working farms and forests, strengthens community resilience, and upholds our state’s historic pattern of compact villages surrounded by rural lands and natural areas. To advance this vision, the Act sets ambitious goals to conserve 30% of Vermont’s landscape by 2030 and 50% by 2050, and directs the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB), in coordination with the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), to prepare a statewide conservation plan. Phase I of the implementation process – establishing a statewide inventory of conserved lands – was completed in 2024. We are now in Phase II, development and refinement of the Vermont Conservation Plan.