Mission: Pec safeguards the landscapes, communities and heritage of virginia's piedmont by involving citizens in related public policy and land conservation.
Programs: Conservation, stewardship and habitat-research the economics of rural land preservation, provide public education on land conservation options and acquire and preserve vital property; provide technical assistance to landowners on native habitat land management practices. Pec has helped landowners permanently protect more than 394,000 acres of rural or natural land. Conservation easements help ensure that the virginia piedmont is always characterized by its open spaces, healthy environment and cultural resources.
county issues - analyze county planning proposals for environmental impact and develop sound conservation alternatives.
land use and policy - analyze local, regional, state and federal policies that affect virginia's northern piedmont and provide public education.
farms and food - educate consumers and institutions about local food and farms, and connect them with fresh, healthy local food sources through the "buy fresh buy local" program. In 2017 pec published and distributed buy fresh buy local buides to every home (250,000+) in our nine county region. Pec also supports expanded opportunities for farmers through workshops that connect piedmont landowners and farmers seeking farmland to lease or purchase, participation in and promotion of state and national new and beginning farmer initiatives, the development of a farmer-chef express online service to connect local farmers to retailers, the management of demonstration projects for innovative pasture management practices, and leasing pec owned land to local farmers for agricultural uses. Transportation and growth management - promote orderly economic prgress sensitive to conserving resources; analyze the impact of planned roadways in order to promote alternatives that minimize damage to the virginia piedmont. Outreach and education - manage the pec summer fellowship program; educate local citizens on mission related issues through print and online media; organize events on local infrastructure and growth management issues, local farms and food, native habitat and cultural history of piedmont communities.
Piedmont Environmental Council is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means Piedmont Environmental Council meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Piedmont Environmental Council has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. Learn More: http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.
