Saving Virginia's Special Lands

The Case for a Dedicated Funding Source for Land Conservation in Virginia

Open Space · Farmland · Forests · Watersheds · Parks · Natural Areas · Historic Sites

A Report from the Conservation Land Coalition August 1999

The Challenge

Virginia is losing its open space, natural areas, forest and farmland, and historic sites at an alarming rate.

• Population growth:  Virginia, the 12th-most populous state in the U.S., continues to grow steadily.  Population has increased by 50% since 1970 and is projected to grow by another 1.5 million people by the year 2025.

• Farmland loss:  Virginia lost nearly 450,000 acres of prime farmland from 1987 to 1997—about 5% of the state's total farmland.  Virginia's Northern Piedmont was ranked the second most threatened farmland region in the nation in a 1997 study by the American Farmland Trust.

• Forest loss:  Ending nearly a century of steady reforestation, Virginia's total forest lands began declining in 1977, losing an average of 26,000 acres annually between 1977 and 1992 (the most recent survey year).  Most of the loss is in the coastal plain and the northern Piedmont.

• Threatened natural areas:  Virginia ranks among the top 10 states in rare plants and animals.  Of the 692 environmentally sensitive natural areas identified, 61% are unprotected and in danger of being lost forever.  42% of Virginia's wetlands have been lost since colonial times, and these precious resources continue to decline, with the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed losing 2,500 acres annually in the 1980s (the most recent available data).

• Lack of urban greenspace:  The loss of open space in urban and suburban areas is a growing quality of life concern, as well as a conservation issue.  Parks and playgrounds close to home are essential for the physical and social well-being of our youth.  Trails and greenways provide everyone with daily relief from urban congestion.

Preserving these lands is critical to Virginia's economy . . .

• Agriculture directly employs 235,000 people in Virginia.  Considering the effects of agriculture-related income in other sectors, in 1997 agriculture accounted for one of every ten jobs in Virginia and $19.5 billion in economic activity, or 11.2% of the state's economy.

• The forest products industry adds $9.8 billion annually to Virginia's economy and provides 228,000 jobs.

• Tourism—dependent on a scenic landscape, outdoor recreation, and protected historic sites—is the state's third-largest employer, with 193,000 jobs.  Travelers spent $11.7 billion in 1998, and one-third of these visitors (including nearly 75% of first-timers) visit historic sites.  These tourists stay longer and spend more than twice as much as the average visitor.

• Outdoor recreation such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and wildlife watching contributes $2 billion in direct spending annually to Virginia's economy.

• The seafood industry depends upon abundant wetlands and clean streams and rivers that provide crucial nursery grounds for famed Chesapeake Bay fisheries such as blue crab, oyster, and rockfish.  Virginia's watermen bring in the third-largest catch in the nation, contributing $465 million annually to the state's economy.

. . .and to sound fiscal health at the local and county level.

• Farmland and open space generate a tax revenue surplus to localities, while residential development actually costs more for required services and infrastructure than it generates in tax revenues, according to numerous studies.

• Towns, cities and counties that fail to protect their local watersheds face spiraling costs for treatment and water supply from far-off sources.

Losing these lands compromises the character of our landscape and our way of life.

• From the first settlers at Jamestown, to the Revolutionary War, to the legacy of Jefferson and the Founding Fathers, to the hallowed grounds of the Civil War, America happened here.  Virginia's countryside is rich in historic, scenic, environmental and recreational value.

• The loss of open space diminishes our quality of life, leading to increased congestion, loss of wildlife habitat, and loss of natural scenic beauty.

• Through unplanned, rapid development of open space, we risk losing our sense of place and community—the essence of why many people choose to live and work in Virginia.

The Solution

The Commonwealth should establish a dedicated, long-term funding source for land conservation to generate $40 million annually.

• The Conservation Recreation Foundation was established by the General Assembly in 1992 but remained unfunded.  In 1999, the General Assembly reconstituted the foundation as the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, funded with a $1.75 million appropriation.  Under the direction of the Secretary of Natural Resources, the Foundation has authority to expend funds for farmland, forests, historic sites, natural areas, parks and open space.

• To meet the urgent and growing need for land conservation in Virginia, the Conservation Land Coalition recommends that the Foundation be funded with at least $40 million annually.

Public opinion in Virginia and nationwide is strongly on the side of land conservation . . .

• 88% of Virginians agree that development and economic growth should be planned so it does not endanger the environment, according to a 1995 public opinion poll sponsored by the Virginia Environmental Endowment.

• The last significant initiative for state land acquisition, the 1992 Parks and Recreational Facilities bond, passed with 67% of the vote.

• The Virginia Beach Agricultural Reserve Program, Virginia's first Purchase of Development Rights program for farmland preservation, was enacted in 1995 by a 10-1 City Council vote.

• Voters in the November 1998 elections approved 124 out of 148 referendums for open space acquisition on state and county ballots across the United States—an 84% approval rate!

. . .and neighboring states have already established dedicated funding sources.

• Methods of funding vary from state to state.  Dedication of real estate taxes or other existing tax revenue sources is a common method.

A dedicated funding source would leverage significant contributions by the federal government, localities, and nonprofit organizations.

• The U.S. Congress is considering a substantial increase in the Land and Water Conservation Fund.  Under this and other federal programs, Virginia could receive at least $30 million annually for land acquisition and other recreation-based expenditures, a significant part of which must be matched by state funds.

• Virginia now has no stable and adequate source to match these federal funds.  With a dedicated funding source, the new Virginia Land Conservation Foundation could supply the match.

• Private nonprofit organizations already spend several million dollars annually to protect land in Virginia, and are key partners with the Commonwealth in this effort.  Support from the Commonwealth will enhance and leverage these private efforts.

• Cities and counties across Virginia are committed to providing parks and green space for their residents, but lack funds.  Several are poised to follow Virginia Beach's lead and enact farmland preservation programs.  Support from the Commonwealth will enhance these local initiatives.

Existing Needs

Organizations and agencies have identified land acquisition needs far in excess of the recommended $40 million annual funding figure.

• Forests:  The acquisition of state forests spanning 92,000 acres in 26 counties is recommended by the Virginia Dept. of Forestry.  Acquisition costs are $87.2 million.  (All costs are the best available current estimates).

• Farmland:  The average value of farmland in Virginia is $1,925 per acre.  Purchasing development rights on just 2% of the state's farmland (about 170,000 acres) would cost about $100 million (assuming a price of 30% of the land's fair market value).  The city of Virginia Beach alone now spends $3.5 million per year for its model Agricultural Reserve Program.

• Natural Areas:  425 globally significant conservation sites in Virginia are unprotected, according to the state Natural Heritage Program.  The cost of purchasing 30 specific top sites is nearly $20 million.

• State Parks:  Simply to purchase the dozens of inholdings at existing state parks will cost about $16 million.  No money is set aside to address new state park acquisition needs for a growing population.

• Historic Sites:  Virginia's threatened historic sites include battlefields, the lands surrounding James-town, and our 12 historic districts, home to such American landmarks as Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Ferry Farm.  Protecting Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields alone will likely cost more than one billion dollars.

• Local Parks:  In just one region of the state, fast-growing Northern Virginia, the Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking to acquire an additional 6,800 acres of park land to meet the active recreation needs of its citizens, at an estimated cost of $68 million.  Many localities are likewise looking to expand their systems of trails and greenways to meet the needs of their citizens.

Conservation Land Coalition