To date, PEC has helped landowners permanently protect more than 430,000 acres of land in our nine-county region. Our work centers around accelerating the pace of land conservation, ensuring clean water, enhancing wildlife habitat and expanding public access. Get started on your land conservation journey with our free easement brochure.
Cost-Share Programs for Land Management
Learn about funding options for land management activities on your property …
Intro to Conservation Easements
An easement is a voluntary land preservation agreement between a landowner and a land conservation organization, designed to protect the …
Conserving a Crown Jewel in Culpeper County
Western View Plantation in Culpeper County gets its name from the panoramic vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park seen from its pastures and fields. This 700-acre working farm exemplifies the kind …
PEC’s Big Year in Conservation
Last year, within The Piedmont Environmental Council’s nine-county region, landowners partnered with conservation organizations like ours to conserve 5,446 acres of lands and forever protect the many public benefits they provide the region …
Conservation Funds Protect Clarke County Property
Sometimes advancing conservation in our region means supporting another partner’s vision. This was the case last year, when The Piedmont Environmental Council contributed funds from our Clark County Land Conservation Fund to the purchase of …
The Little Forest That Could
Deep within the center of a former 1,200-acre monoculture pine plantation-turned-utility-scale solar project lies a donut hole of amazing, permanently protected natural hardwood forest. It exists because Christine and Bob Putnam took yet another of …
The Next Generation
For over 100 years, three generations of Goodalls have owned and worked to improve their land in Madison County, which now stands at 596 acres after enlarging the farm several times. Now, brothers Joe and …
A Historic Opportunity: Help Make Oak Hill Virginia’s Newest State Park
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create an expansive new state park in Loudoun County, a proposed park that will protect a National Historic Landmark and offer easy access to the outdoors for millions of …
The 2025 Virginia General Assembly is in Session.
An overview of the topics that PEC has its eye on this session: data center reform, land conservation and public access, solar implementation, housing and local land use authority …
Culpeper Co.: December 2024 Updates
This year, we made a concerted effort to better inform the Culpeper community about local events. We have some good news to shhare with you about decisions that were only achieved through strong community engagement …
2024 Highlights: By the Numbers
PEC’s dedicated staff work relentlessly to advance land conservation, sound land use planning, the protection of natural resources and better climate and energy policy …
A Match Made in Conservation
Stepping into land conservation for the first time, or starting a new conservation project, can feel as intimidating or overwhelming as a first date might feel. But in these brightly lit rooms with friendly faces, …
