Lightning Updates
Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Celebrates 25 Years of Preserving the Commonwealth’s Landscapes
The Rappahannock River in Caroline CountyWritten by Jamal ChildsThe Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) is celebrating a significant milestone—25 years of conserving Virginia's diverse landscapes. Over the past quarter-century, the foundation has awarded...
Protecting What We Treasure- By the Numbers
Across the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership (CCP), partners are making amazing progress toward conservation in the watershed. CCP has a goal of protecting 30% of the watershed by the year 2030 and 50% by 2050. Twenty-two percent (9.1 million acres) of the...
The Chesapeake Watershed Celebrates Its Third Sentinel Landscape: Kittatinny Ridge
North Lookout, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, PaWritten by: Jamal ChildsIn eastern Pennsylvania's Appalachian Mountains, the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape stands as a testament to the power of collaborative conservation. This remarkable region, named "Big...
Maryland Achieves Landmark Conservation Goal Ahead of Schedule
Written by: Jamal ChildsOn May 15th, 2024, Governor Moore announced that the state has achieved a significant milestone in its conservation efforts, meeting its ambitious "30 by 30" goal ahead of schedule. This landmark achievement underscores the state's commitment...
Key Legislation from Maryland and Virginia’s 2024 General Assembly
Written by: Jamal Childs & Ben AlexandroWithin the rooms of the Maryland and Virginia General Assemblies, legislators came together in 2024 to enact some conservation and environmental bills. These bills are a few examples of the legislative efforts aimed at...
A Tale of Two Atlases
The American Conservation and Stewardship AtlasWritten by: Jamal Childs and Ben AlexandroIn the realm of conservation, information is power. Two atlases, the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas on Conservation.gov and the Chesapeake Conservation Atlas, have...
A Blueprint for Collaborative Planning
The Cacapon & Lost Rivers WatershedWritten by: Jamal ChildsConservation planning is a crucial step in preserving our natural resources and way of life. In the headwaters of West Virginia, the Cacapon Watershed Collaborative recently completed a Cacapon Watershed...
Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge: A Landmark Conservation Initiative Emerges After Years of Collaboration
Long-eared bat is a federally endangered species spotted within the proposed possible acquisition boundary of the refuge.Guest written by: Joe McCauleyJoe McCauley, retired from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Joseph McCauley brings vast conservation...
Elktonia-Carr’s Beach Heritage Park: Preserving History and Promoting Inclusion
Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation Success Story by Jamal ChildsWritten by Jamal ChildsIn the annals of American history, there are places that serve as more than just landmarks; they are repositories of resilience, joy and cultural heritage. Longtime Lightning...
Combing Data for Storytelling and Conservation Planning in the Shenandoah Valley
VCC staff preparing a field report on a working farm in Rockingham CountyGuest Written by Taylor Evans, Director of Land Protection, Valley Conservation Council “Where do we even start?” The ever-present question for organizations with ambitious missions, expansive...
