2021 Conference Presentation
Urban Land Trust Partnering with Coastal Communities: Retreating from Sea Level Rise Through Conservation
Wetlands Watch is leading a pilot project that utilizes land conservation to facilitate retreat from sea level rise, while creating alternative nature-based uses for flooded properties. Partnering with Living River Trust who serves as the hypothetical conservation easement holder and conserved land owner. The pilot includes two projects with goals to produce adaptive management strategies for urban parcels previously under FEMA restrictive covenants (Chesapeake) and those with protective easements in the future (Norfolk).
The session will also talk about the new Community Flood Preparedness Fund which could provide localities throughout Virginia funding for land acquisition projects. The first of four 2021 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions brought in nearly $20 million for the Fund, of which $18 million will be offered in grants in the first round of grant offerings expected mid-year.
Presenters:
- Mary-Carson Stiff, Wetlands Watch, Policy Director
- Skip Stiles, Wetlands Watch, Executive Director
Presenter Slides:
