The “Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act” (CRBPA or Act 59), focuses on improving Vermont’s conservation and environmental resilience. The act recognizes the critical state of biodiversity loss and the need for immediate action to combat climate change. The act emphasizes the importance of protecting natural habitats and biodiversity for future generations. The act sets ambitious targets to conserve 30% of the state’s land by 2030 and 50% by 2050. These targets are also known as 30×30 and 50×50.
We recognize and seek alignment with those efforts and goals, particularly where Vermont conservation investments are part of coordinated regional, national and international efforts and funding programs. Nonetheless, our recommendations will be Vermont-specific, with data and metrics based on the functions and values of a healthy, ecologically connected and functioning natural and working landscape—and not just the number of acres protected under different programs and strategies.
This objective outlines pathways to protect, restore and maintain a functioning and connected natural and working landscape. To focus this work, we are using Vermont Conservation Design, a science-based framework to protect the lands, water and wildlife that are most critical to an ecologically functional landscape.
This objective focuses on conservation investments that yield social and community benefits while protecting and promoting the health of our lands and watersheds. The conservation of working forests, agricultural lands and the provision of recreational and educational opportunities that connect people with the land are all integral to a land conservation strategy that fulfils the overall vision of Act 59.
This objective focuses on the foundational work of building the human resources, program infrastructure, funding and innovation needed to successfully implement Act 59 in both the near term and years to come. This will strengthen the whole conservation community, including VHCB and ANR, NGO conservation organizations, municipalities, landowners, and the many public and private organizations who support them. Our collective ability to do the work needed to meet the goals of Act 59 depends on having the resources in place to support our work at each stage of conservation planning, land acquisition, management, restoration and stewardship.