This Regional Natural Resources Plan is intended to help protect and improve our region’s land, water, and wildlife.

Earlier this year, we asked what types of natural resources matter most to you. Your feedback helped us create maps that show where we have strong natural areas and where we face challenges.

THE MAPS SHOW INFORMATION ABOUT:

• Water Quality – how clean or polluted our rivers and streams are

• Terrestrial Habitat – places where animals and plants live and move

• Flood Resilience – areas that help manage or are at risk from flooding

• Recreation and Culture – outdoor recreation sites and cultural areas

• Working Lands – farms and forests that produce food, fiber, and jobs

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK THE MAPS SHOW and what actions we can take together to protect these resources.

You can:

• View the Interactive Maps in the Natural Resources Plan StoryMap to explore the data in more depth

• Give us your feedback by January 18, 2026!

Everyone can play a role—local governments, community groups, state agencies, and residents like you.

Healthy natural resources provide clean water and air, ensure our quality of life, and sustain our economy. Virginia’s rich set of 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.

The current project builds upon the 2009 regional green infrastructure plan to include five categories of landscape features: terrestrial habitat, water quality, recreation & culture, flood resilience, and working lands (agriculture, forestry, for food and fiber). This plan update can provide a foundation for additional planning efforts in the region, as well as inform program and policy decisions.

Public input was open from February-March 2025 and December 2025-January 2026 to gather feedback on the plan.

Between February and March 2025, we asked community members to share their input on priorities for the region’s natural resources.

These are some of what you told us you cared about

Across multiple goals, participants overwhelmingly agreed with protecting water resources, preserving habitats, expanding trail connections, enhancing historic and scenic sites, supporting sustainable governance, and using nature-based solutions for flood resilience—all rated very highly (over 4 out of 5).

Participants also provided thoughtful suggestions for additional focus areas, including protecting wetlands, restoring urban tree canopy, improving air quality, addressing light pollution, preserving cultural heritage, and increasing public education and engagement.

We'd love your help spreading the word so that more voices are heard. Would you share with your neighborhood association, house of worship, school, or community group?

• Post about the plan to your social media and tag us! @planrva
• Encourage people to follow this and other projects of interest to receive updates about new phases or public input opportunities! (Click the follow button at the top of the page)
• Click on the globe at the top right to translate into 10 language options.