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New climate change and military readiness areas established in Virginia; benefits may accrue to NNK

On July 10, Gov. Youngkin announced the “establishment of the Virginia Security Corridor partnership and award of two federal Sentinel Landscape designations in eastern Virginia.” The two are the Potomac Sentinel Landscape to the west of the Rappahannock River and the Tidewater Sentinel Landscape.

According to the press release,

The designations will strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, and build working lands through integration of federal, state, local, and non-governmental partnerships. The partnerships advance mutually beneficial land-use initiatives that complement Virginia’s military, forestry, agriculture, and recreation economies by connecting landowners with voluntary conservation easement assistance programs.

The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership was founded in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, and Department of the Interior. It seeks to prevent encroachment on military missions, increase working lands, build resilience against climate-induced hazards, conserve key habitats, benefit water quality, and protect threatened species. Virginia governance partners include the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Veterans and Defense Affairs, and Natural and Historic Resources. Program management will be led by the Department of Forestry.

The Middle Chesapeake Sentinel Landscape was designated some years ago. It covers part of the Northern Neck and extends across the Potomac River, southern Maryland, Chesapeake Bay, and into Delaware. Since 2015, 51,107 acres have been protected and 203,259 acres have been enrolled. The area includes national historical parks, military assets, acreage designated for climate change protection, and more.

View and play with the interactive map.

Learn more from Sentinel Landscapes Partnership.

While the latest designations have no direct impact on the Middle Chesapeake Sentinel Landscape, the attention can reinvigorate attention on the part of landowners, local government, and environment and agriculture advocates to make improvements to address the threats of climate change and to improve agricultural productivity and efficiency.





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