Residents get involved in local conservation efforts in urban and rural areas
Charlottesville — Chris Gensic swept his arms around him as he sought to fully explain the scope of the surrounding Virginia forest — as a project, a green space and an opportunity for local residents.
People are embracing the idea that the forests they rely on for their water and recreation aren’t somewhere else — they’re the woods next door“To me the word ‘community’ means all of that — it’s not one agency, one non-profit, but rather the entire community that sees the value in this,” he said. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who in 2008 authored legislation on community forests, said they serve the public “in numerous ways”, pointing to activities such as hiking and birdwatching and the tourism potential of outdoor recreation.
The programme has so far provided about $20m in funding, and helped prompt an additional $38m from other sources. “These forests are proving to be incredibly important financial investments for the communities,” said Stewart.