About Virginiaforever

» What is Virginiaforever?
» Why Are More Funds Needed?
» Virginians Support Natural Resource Protection

What is Virginiaforever?

Virginiaforever Board of Directors: Brian Ball, Chairman Williams Mullen Robert M. Blue, Vice Chairman Dominion Robert L. Dunn, Secretary/Treasurer Retired, formerly DuPont Ann Biraben, The National Audubon Society Johnny C. Finch, Virginia Association for Parks Dale A. Gardner, Virginia State Dairymen's Association Ann F. Jennings, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Michael Lipford, The Nature Conservancy Henry P. Long, Philip Morris USA Charles G. McDaniel, Hilldrup Companies Dawn Siegel, former Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Street, James River Association Kim Tingley, Homebuilders Association of Virginia Dennis H. Treacy, Smithfield Foods Carol Wampler, New River Land Trust   *Virginiaforever is grateful for financial support from the Virginia Environmental Endowment.

Virginiaforever is aimed at increasing the commitment of state funds for natural resource protection. It was launched by a coalition of organizations, sportsmen, businesses and industry that has come together to pursue this common goal.

Why Are More Funds Needed?

According to studies (downloads available below) conducted by Fiscal Analytics, Virginia’s financial support for natural resource programs has hovered just below 1% of the entire state budget for several years.

2002 Study >>
2003 Study >>
2004 Study >>
2005 Study >>

Yet, the Virginia Constitution explicitly declares protection of our natural resources to be a core function of state government. And even in tight budget times, policymakers agree that Virginia’s first priority must be to support core functions.

In the 2004-2006 state budget approved in May, the General Assembly included $35 million in new funding for water quality improvement and land conservation, thanks in part to our efforts through Virigniaforever. While this is a positive step, it does not begin to meet the true need for conservation funding in the Commonwealth.

Virginians Support Natural
Resource Protection

In 1992 and again in 2002, over 65 percent of Virginia’s registered voters approved bond referendums to expand our state parks and natural areas.

Virginians are even willing to pay for this governmental function out of their own pockets. According to a recent poll, two-thirds of voters said they would be willing to pay a little extra each month to protect water quality, open space, fisheries and wildlife and recreational areas.

 

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