VERMONT CONSERVATION PLAN (ACT 59) LISTENING SESSION
To ensure that Grand Isle County voices are included in the final round of community input, Grand Isle County Natural Resources Conservation District and South Hero Land Trust are hosting a listening session in North Hero on March 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Free dinner is included!
This session will focus on gathering feedback on conservation pathways and actions that most directly relate to the landscapes and communities of Grand Isle County. We will begin with a brief overview of the history of the law, the current draft plan, and key actions that could affect our region. The goal is to provide helpful context so participants can share informed perspectives and help shape how the plan is implemented locally.
MORE ABOUT ACT 59
In June 2023 the Vermont Legislature passed the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act (Act 59). This act calls for a statewide conservation plan that maintains an ecologically functional landscape that sustains biodiversity, strengthens communities, and upholds Vermont’s historic pattern of compact villages surrounded by farmland and natural areas.
After eighteen months of inventorying, studying, and community input, an expanded Draft Conservation Plan Framework has been developed by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB), and they are seeking public input before it is finalized and sent to the state legislature in June.
Learn more about the plan here: vhcb.org/conservation/act-59