§ 2801. Definitions
As used in this section:
(1) “Ecological reserve area” means an area having permanent protection from conversion
and that is managed to maintain a natural state within which natural ecological processes
and disturbance events are allowed to proceed with minimal interference.
(2) “Biodiversity conservation area” means an area having permanent protection from conversion
for the majority of the area and that is managed for the primary goal of sustaining
species or habitats. These areas may include regular, active interventions to address
the needs of particular species or to maintain or restore habitats.
(3) “Natural resource management area” means an area having permanent protection from
conversion for the majority of the area but that is subject to long-term, sustainable
land management.
(4) “Conversion” means a fundamental change in natural ecosystem type or habitat, natural
or undeveloped land cover type, or natural form and function of aquatic systems.
(5) “Sustainable land management” means the stewardship and use of forests and forestlands,
grasslands, wetlands, riparian areas, and other lands, including the types of agricultural
lands that support biodiversity, in a way, and at a rate, that maintains or restores
their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality, and their potential
to fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic, and social functions
at local, State, and regional levels, and that does not degrade ecosystem function.
(6) “Conserved” means permanently protected and meeting the definition of ecological reserve
area, biodiversity conservation area, or natural resource management area as defined
in this section for purposes of meeting the 30 percent goal in subsection 2802(b) of this title. For purposes of meeting the 50 percent goal of subsection 2802(b) of this title, “conserved” primarily means permanently protected and meeting the definition of
ecological reserve area, biodiversity conservation area, or natural resource management
area as defined in this section, although other long-term land protection mechanisms
and measures that achieve the goals of Vermont Conservation Design that are enforceable
and accountable and that support an ecologically functional and connected landscape
may be considered. (Added 2023, No. 59, § 3, eff. July 1, 2023.)
§ 2802. Conservation vision and goals
(a) The vision of the State of Vermont is to maintain an ecologically functional landscape
that sustains biodiversity, maintains landscape connectivity, supports watershed health,
promotes climate resilience, supports working farms and forests, provides opportunities
for recreation and appreciation of the natural world, and supports the historic settlement
pattern of compact villages surrounded by rural lands and natural areas.
(b) It is the goal of the State that 30 percent of Vermont’s total land area shall be
conserved by 2030, and 50 percent of the State’s total land area shall be conserved
by 2050. The Secretary of Natural Resources shall lead the effort in achieving these
goals. The land conserved shall include State, federal, municipal, and private land.
(c) Reaching 30 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050 shall include a mix of ecological
reserve areas, biodiversity conservation areas, and natural resource management areas.
In order to support an ecologically functional and connected landscape with sustainable
production of natural resources and recreational opportunities, the approximate percentages
of each type of conservation category shall be guided by the principles of conservation
science and the conservation targets within Vermont Conservation Design, prioritizing
ecological reserve areas to protect highest priority natural communities and maintain
or restore old forests. (Added 2023, No. 59, § 3, eff. July 1, 2023.)
§ 2803. Conserved land inventory
(a) On or before July 1, 2024, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, in consultation
with the Secretary, shall create an inventory of Vermont’s conserved land and conservation
policies to serve as the basis of meeting the conservation goals of Vermont Conservation
Design and to meet the goals established in section 2802 of this title. The inventory shall be submitted for review to the House Committees on Environment
and on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Natural
Resources and Energy.
(b) The inventory shall include:
(1) A review of the three conservation categories defined in section 2801 of this title and suggestions for developing any modifications or additions to these categories
that maintain or complement the core concepts of ecological reserve areas, biodiversity
conservation areas, and natural resource management areas in order to complete the
conserved land inventory and inform the comprehensive strategy in the conservation
plan. As part of this review, criteria shall be developed to determine the types of
agricultural lands that will qualify as supporting and restoring biodiversity and
therefore count towards the natural resource management area category.
(2) The amount of conserved land in Vermont that fits into each of the three conservation
categories defined in section 2801 of this title, including public and private land. The inventory shall also include other lands
permanently protected from development by fee ownership or subject to conservation
easements.
(3) A summary of the totality of conservation practices, both permanent and intermediate,
available for reaching the goals of this chapter, including what they are, what they
do, how they contribute, and what metrics are available to quantify them.
(4) An assessment of how State lands will be used to increase conserved ecological reserve
areas.
(5) The implementation methods that could be utilized for achieving the goals of this
chapter using Vermont Conservation Design as a guide.
(6) A review of how aquatic systems are currently conserved or otherwise protected in
the State, including a description of the benefits land conservation provides for
aquatic systems, whether this is sufficient to maintain aquatic system functions and
services, and how the implementation methods for achieving the goals of this chapter
using Vermont Conservation Design as a guide would include specific strategies for
protecting aquatic system health.
(7) How existing programs will be used to meet the conservation goals of this chapter
and recommendations for new programs, if any, that will be needed to meet the goals.
(8) An assessment of existing funding and recommendations for new funding sources that
will be needed for acquisition of land, purchase or donation of conservation easements,
staffing capacity, and long-term stewardship to meet the goals.
(9) An equity assessment of existing land protection and conservation strategies and programs.
(10) An evaluation of the opportunities related to intergenerational land transfer trends
and how the State could proactively direct resources to achieve conservation at the
time of transfer. (Added 2023, No. 59, § 3, eff. July 1, 2023.)
§ 2804. Conservation plan
(a) On or before December 31, 2025, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, in consultation
with the Secretary, shall develop a plan to implement the conservation goals of Vermont
Conservation Design and to meet the vision and goals established in section 2802 of this title. The plan shall be submitted for review to the House Committees on Environment and
on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Natural
Resources and Energy.
(b) The plan shall include:
(1) a comprehensive strategy for achieving the vision and goals of section 2802 of this title while continuing to conserve and protect Vermont’s agricultural land, working forests,
historic properties, recreational lands, and surface waters;
(2) the implementation methods for achieving the vision and goals of this chapter using
Vermont Conservation Design as a guide;
(3) recommendations to provide and increase equitable access to protected and conserved
lands and land-based enterprises, including recreational access to and use of conserved
lands; and
(4) recommendations to implement the vision and goals of this chapter while also enhancing
the State of Vermont’s current investments and commitments to working lands enterprises,
rural landowners, and the broad conservation mission implemented by the Secretary
and VHCB, including conservation of agricultural land, working forests, historic properties,
recreational lands, and surface waters.
(c) In developing the plan, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, in consultation
with the Secretary, shall hold 12 or more public meetings on the plan between July
1, 2023 and December 31, 2025 to solicit input from stakeholders. Stakeholders shall
include private owners of forestlands and agricultural lands, land trusts, conservation
organizations, environmental organizations, working lands enterprises, outdoor recreation
groups and businesses, Indigenous groups and representatives from historically marginalized
and disadvantaged communities, watershed groups, municipalities, regional planning
commissions, conservation commissions, and relevant State and federal agencies. At
least three of the meetings shall be designed to solicit comments from the general
public.
(d) The conserved land inventory established in 2803 of this title shall be updated biennially
to track progress toward meeting the vision and goals of this chapter, which shall
be publicly available, and the Secretary shall submit a report to the relevant committees
on or before January 15 following each update. (Added 2023, No. 59, § 3, eff. July 1, 2023.)