Office of Working Lands Preservation established to streamline services for Virginia’s farm and forestland owners – Rocktown Now

Virginia’s Strategic Land Conservation Initiative and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Unified Approach to Working Lands Preservation

A strategic partnership in Virginia has consolidated land conservation programs under a single entity to enhance efficiency and impact. The former Office of Farmland Preservation has been integrated into the Department of Forestry, creating the new Office of Working Lands Preservation (OWL). This administrative restructuring aims to streamline conservation and succession programs that protect Virginia’s vital agricultural and forestry lands in perpetuity, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Advancing SDG 15: Life on Land

The core mission of the OWL is fundamentally aligned with SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainably managing forests.

• The initiative directly addresses threats to land resources, such as conversion for utility-scale solar projects and data centers, by creating a unified front for the preservation of productive ecosystems.
• By combining oversight for both agricultural and forestry properties, the office recognizes these as interconnected components of the terrestrial ecosystem, promoting a holistic approach to conservation.

Supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Production)

The preservation of working lands is critical for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable economic models.

• By safeguarding productive farmland from competing development, the OWL’s work directly supports SDG 2 by securing the land base necessary for sustainable food production and agricultural viability.
• The focus on keeping “working lands working” promotes responsible production patterns (SDG 12) by ensuring that natural resources are managed sustainably for both current economic benefit and long-term ecological health.

Fostering SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The initiative’s impact extends to the development of resilient communities and climate change mitigation.

• Protecting forestland, a key function of the OWL, is a direct contribution to SDG 13 (Climate Action), as forests are essential carbon sinks that mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Strategic land preservation helps manage urban and industrial expansion, contributing to more sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) by protecting rural landscapes, local economies, and quality of life.

Core Mandates and Collaborative Framework (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)

The establishment of the OWL exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by creating a robust collaborative framework between government agencies, private landowners, and other stakeholders. The integrated missions of the office include:

1. Developing model policies and practices for local purchase of development rights programs in collaboration with public and private entities.
2. Administering the Virginia Farmland and Forestland Preservation Fund to provide financial support for conservation efforts.
3. Providing technical assistance to farmers, forest landowners, and local governments to build capacity for land preservation.
4. Implementing public education programs to raise awareness of the importance of farmland and forestland preservation for achieving sustainable development.
5. Administering programs such as Virginia Farm Link and Generation NEXT to facilitate the transition of farm businesses to new operators, ensuring generational continuity in sustainable land management.

Contact for Engagement

Landowners interested in contributing to these sustainability goals through permanent land protection via a conservation easement are encouraged to contact the Office of Working Lands Preservation at conservation@dof.virginia.gov or 434-220-9021.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Virginia’s Office of Working Lands Preservation (OWL) addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on the conservation of farmland and forests, promoting sustainable land use, and fostering partnerships to achieve these goals.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article connects to this goal by emphasizing the preservation of “productive acreage” and “working lands,” which are essential for agriculture and food production. Protecting farmland from competing uses ensures the land remains available for growing food, contributing to food security.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire initiative is about protecting terrestrial ecosystems. The text explicitly mentions the goal to “protect working lands in perpetuity,” which directly aligns with the conservation and sustainable use of land. It addresses threats to land from “utility-scale solar, expansion of transmission lines and data centers,” highlighting the need to manage land sustainably.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights the importance of collaboration. It describes a “powerful partnership among Virginia’s farm and forestry landowners” and the administrative shift of the OWL to the Department of Forestry to streamline services. The mission to “work with public agencies and private groups” further underscores the collaborative approach, which is the core of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The article supports this target by focusing on programs that preserve farmland (“Office of Farmland Preservation”) and keep “Virginia’s working lands working,” which is fundamental to maintaining sustainable food production systems against the pressure of non-agricultural development.
2. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests. The OWL’s mission to “oversee conservation or succession programs that protect working lands in perpetuity” is a direct implementation of this target, focusing on both agricultural and forest ecosystems.
   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. By preventing the conversion of productive farmland and forests to industrial uses like “data centers,” the program helps avoid land degradation and preserves soil quality, contributing to this target.
   • Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning and development processes. The OWL’s mission includes working with local governments to “establish model policies and practices for local purchase of development rights programs,” which is a clear example of integrating conservation values into local planning.
3. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article describes the reorganization of state agencies (Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Department of Forestry) to create a more effective public partnership. Furthermore, the OWL’s mandate to “work with public agencies and private groups” directly reflects the goal of fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not provide explicit quantitative data, but it implies several indicators that could be used to measure the success of the Office of Working Lands Preservation and its contribution to the SDGs.

1. Indicator for Target 15.1 (Proportion of land area conserved): The primary goal is to “permanently protect land through a conservation easement.” An implied indicator would be the total acreage of farmland and forestland placed under conservation easements through the OWL’s programs. The article’s concern about the “ongoing loss of productive acreage” suggests that tracking the amount of land preserved is a key measure of success.
2. Indicator for Target 15.9 (Integration of values into planning): The OWL’s mission to provide “assistance to local governments interested in developing related policies and programs” implies an indicator: the number of local governments that have adopted or developed land preservation policies with support from the office.
3. Indicator for Target 2.4 (Sustainable agriculture): The administration of “Virginia Farm Link” and “Generation NEXT” programs to assist retiring farmers in transitioning their farms to new farmers implies an indicator: the number of successful farm transitions facilitated by these programs, ensuring that agricultural land remains in production.
4. Indicator for Target 17.17 (Partnerships): The administration of the “Virginia Farmland and Forestland Preservation Fund” implies a financial indicator: the amount of funding disbursed from the fund to support local conservation efforts, reflecting the financial commitment of the partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: rocktownnow.com