Healthy natural resources provide our clean water and air, ensure our quality of life, and sustain our economy. Virginia’s rich natural resources include our forests, waterways and bays, soils, wildlife areas, wetlands, dunes, historic landscapes, and parks. These resources are woven throughout our towns, cities, and subdivisions as well as across our mountains, valleys, and shores.

Natural resource planning connects intact habitat areas (cores) through a network of corridors to allow people, wildlife, and plants to move across the landscape. A connected landscape makes species less susceptible to extinction while allowing for both conservation and recreation. The results: better land use and grey infrastructure (roads, utilities) better planning, protected natural resources, and healthier communities.

PlanRVA worked with regional partners to create two landscape-scale Green Infrastructure plans in 2009.

The Richmond Region Green Infrastructure Project. This Green Infrastructure analysis focused on terrestrial habitat cores and corridors.

The Richmond-Crater Green Infrastructure Project. This effort examined opportunities across the regions covered by PlanRVA and the Crater Planning District Commission (localities located to the south and southeast).

Over the years, several localities in the region have also created local-level Green Infrastructure Plans for all or a portion of the area, including New Kent and Richmond.