In 2021, private landowners partnered with various land trusts and conservation agencies to permanently protect an additional 6,474 acres of land in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties.
Maps & Resources
Free Easement Packet for Landowners
PEC has assembled an easement packet filled with important information about conservation easements — including a sample PEC easement and guidelines on how to proceed with donating an easement.
Conservation Easement Stories: Dr. Sam Ahdoot
Dr. Sam Ahdoot placed her land in Rappahannock County under a conservation easement with The Piedmont Environmental Council in 2019. The easement was designed to have many public benefits, including the protection of clean water, restoration of native plant and wildlife habitat, and the scenic views from Shenandoah National Park and F.T. Valley Road.
2021 at the Community Farm
2021 was our best year yet at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows! Thanks to the help of more than 750 volunteers over the course of the year, we were able to donate approximately 35,000 pounds of fresh produce to our friends at Loudoun Hunger Relief!
Wilderness Crossing: New Residential Development or Potential Superfund Site?
In November 2021, PEC learned that of the five formally-named gold mine sites located on the proposed Wilderness Crossing residential development, none of them have been closed and cleaned up – a process called “reclamation.”
Climate Scientist Katharine Hayhoe Shares Hope for the Holidays
Over 70 people, from Fairfax to Winchester, gathered at the Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane on Saturday, Dec. 18 to hear from Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, renowned climate scientist and author of the recently published book Saving Us.
NEW Warrenton Branch Greenway Extension!
The Warrenton Branch Greenway is a paved pedestrian and bike trail used and loved by Fauquier County residents for decades. Earlier this fall, a new extension opened to nearly double the Greenway’s length to 2.2 miles!
On the Ground Updates – December 2021
A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock.
Meet PEC: Winter 2021
Meet PEC’s October Greenfield and Hugh Kenny!
President’s Letter – Winter 2021
The vibrant colors of the forests this fall have been a source of inspiration and hope for thousands of residents and millions of visitors to the Piedmont region. Whether an individual tree with a complete crown in full display or the more complex patterns of a forested hillside, their effect is an awesome reminder of the power of the natural world to recenter our lives around a sense of place.