Thanks to creativity, collaboration, and a conservation solution put together by The Piedmont Environmental Council and American Farmland Trust, 226 acres of a cattle farm operated by Dustin Watson in Greene County will remain in his family and be protected forever by a conservation easement.
PEC Conservation Funds
Land conservation funds managed by The Piedmont Environmental Council or Piedmont Foundation.
Virginia Piedmont Protects 5,552 Acres in 2025
In 2025, landowners and conservation organizations in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s nine-county region conserved over 4,178 acres through conservation easements. The Conservation Fund’s purchase of Oak Hill in Loudoun County and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s acquisition for the Bull Run Mountain Natural Areas Preserve added another 1,374 acres.
PEC’s Big Year in Conservation
Last year, within The Piedmont Environmental Council’s nine-county region, landowners partnered with conservation organizations like ours to conserve 5,446 acres of lands and forever protect the many public benefits they provide the region.
Sources of Conservation Funding Workshop and Social – August 6, 2024
If you were unable to attend or need a refresher, The Piedmont Environmental Council and our fantastic conservation partners are here to help you explore your options! Below you will find the presentations along with the direct contact information for each program.
Julian Scheer Fauquier Land Conservation Fund
The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Julian Scheer Fauquier Land Conservation Fund (the “Fauquier Fund”) is dedicated to protecting land with important natural, historic, scenic, and agricultural resources in Fauquier County, Virginia. An advisory committee, composed of local residents and PEC staff, helps identify potential projects and provide information to landowners about protecting their land.
A Conservation Journey in Madison County
Carolyn Smith’s Madison County property has been on quite the journey since her parents first purchased the former cattle operation in 1965. Donating a 129-acre conservation easement in late 2023 came on the heels of decades of successful land stewardship by Carolyn, her parents, and a community of partners who have worked to restore and repair the land for wildlife habitat, pollinators and native plants.
On The Ground Updates – December 2023
A series of short land use and conservation updates from around the PEC region.
On The Ground Updates – September 2023
A series of short updates from around the PEC region.
Cost-Share Programs for Land Management
Learn about funding options for land management activities on your property.
Sources of Conservation Funding (free workshop and social)
Join John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fauquier County’s Conservation Easement Program, and The Piedmont Environmental Council for a workshop to explore tools and sources of funding for conservation easements and land management