Environment

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to find where to start. We offer a few starting points to help you begin or continue your sustainability journey. In addition to these starting points, we have listed relevant resources from Federal, State, and Local agencies and organizations to further strengthen your journey and help answer any questions you may have. From national organizations to local tree planters, we should have something for everyone.

If you know of a resource that we haven't listed, please reach out, as we are always looking to expand our guide.

Where to Start

Beginner

  • Protect community parks and advocate for potential new projects. Participate in trash cleanups and invasive species removal in your area.

  • RVA volunteer opportunities

  • The community parks are monitored by parks and rec and some community members, so you can be part of that upkeep and make sure everything that needs maintenance is quickly updated and that the members of the community enjoy it respectfully. You can also advocate for greener pathways there as well.

Intermediate

  • Become a tree steward

  • Tree Stewards are trained community volunteers committed to promoting healthy urban and rural forests in Virginia. Tree Stewards provide training classes, educational programs, and projects in their communities intended to increase public awareness of the value of trees while teaching about trees and tree care.

Expert

  • Start your own garden or native pollinator garden

  • How to build a pollinator garden

  • Create a garden with native plants to support pollinators and enhance local wildlife habitats.

  • Pollinators are the engine that runs healthy habitats. Whether you have a few feet on your apartment balcony, a yard in need of landscaping or several acres, you can make a difference. Follow this easy step by step guide to build your own pollinator garden and help ensure the future is filled with pollinators.

Build your Toolbox

    • National Environmental Health Association

      • Their Mission is "To build, sustain, and empower an effective environmental health workforce."

      • Program committees provide guidance, input and expertise to leadership and program staff, fellow environmental health professionals and partner organizations on environmental health policies and programs.

      • NEHA contact page

    • U.S. General Services Administration

      • "GSA is involved in many programs and activities that enhance and protect the environment."

      • GSA is involved in many programs and activities that enhance and protect the environment. Citizens may be interested in learning more about GSA's environmental programs and activities

      • GSA contact page

    • NEEF

      • "Inspire and mobilize everyday Americans to help conserve, sustainably utilize, and develop a deeper connection with our public lands"

      • NEEF is the nation’s leading organization in lifelong environmental learning, creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience and learn about the environment in ways that improve their lives and the health of the planet.

      • NEEF contact page

    • United States Environmental Protection Agency

      • Mid-Atlantic Region 2024 Summit

      • The first half of the session discusses issues of equity and how they are being address on a federal level. The second half of the session engages the EPAs environmental state secretaries on issues within their respective states with questions from their stakeholders.

      • EPA Contact Page

        • These are recordings from their summit on 6/27/24

    • U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

      • Climate Resilience Toolkit

      • The goal is to improve people’s ability to understand and manage their climate-related risks and opportunities, and to help them make their communities and businesses more resilient to extreme events.

      • Toolkit.gov Contact Page

    • Department of Housing and Community Development

      • The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

      • The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces household energy use through the installation of cost-effective energy savings measures, which also improve resident health and safety. Common measures including sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and repairing heating and cooling systems. WAP does not offer assistance with paying utility bills.

      • Email WAP

    • Virginia Green Travel

      • Green Business Directory

      • The Virginia Green Travel Alliance (VGTA) is the 501c3 non-profit organization that was created in 2014 to support and expand the outreach efforts of the state’s Virginia Green program and sustainable tourism efforts statewide.

      • Email Virginia Green Travel

    • Pine

      • Rental Protection Plan (RPP)

      • Pine is North America's leading equipment provider for Environmental Monitoring, Nondestructive Testing, Remote Visual Inspection, Safety, and Field Supplies.

      • Pine Contact Form

    • The Nature Conservancy

      • Tackling climate change

      • From the rivers of the Clinch Valley to the mountains of the Appalachians and Allegheny Highlands; across the Piedmont to the pine forest savannas of the Tidewater; throughout waters of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond, we're working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Will you help us continue this work?

      • Nature Contact Page

    • Plan RVA

      • Don't Trash Central Virginia

      • PlanRVA works with member localities and other partners to improve the region's environmental health, protect its natural resources, and enhance recreational access.

      • PlanRVA Contact Page

    • Richmond Environmental Group

      • Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs)

      • Richmond Environmental Group, Inc. (REG) is a full-scale environmental consulting firm offering an array of environmental services, and specializing in underground storage tank (UST) compliance, removal, and remediation.

      • REG Contact Form

    • Plan RVA

      • "PlanRVA works with member localities and other partners to improve the region's environmental health, protect its natural resources, and enhance recreational access."

      • The Richmond region boasts a wealth of natural assets that make it a great place to live, work, study, and play. The region lies on the fall line, the zone where the hills of the Piedmont give way to the lower lying coastal plain of Virginia. We have forests, fields, rivers, rapids, tidal estuary, lakes, and streams. Recreational amenities across the region help residents and visitors access and appreciate these resources. On any given day, you can see a variety of wildlife across the RVA region including bald eagles, osprey, blue heron, river otters, and sturgeon.

      • Plan RVA Contact Page

    • James River Association

      • James Rivers core programs include Advocacy, Education, Community Conservation, JAMES RIVERKEEPER© Program, and Watershed Restoration

      • The mission of the James River Association is to be a guardian of the James River. We provide a voice for the river and take action to promote conservation and responsible stewardship of its natural resources.

      • James River Contact Page

    • Keep Virginia Beautiful

      • Green Grants

      • Our Green Grants program empowers groups all across Virginia to make an environmental impact in their own communities. This is one of the ways we can engage the people who live in Virginia to improve our natural and scenic environment. We believe in a shared responsibility to end littering, improve recycling and beautify communities, and we know with your determination and our support, much can be accomplished!

      • Email Keep Virginia Beautiful

    • Southside ReLeaf

      • Tree Ambassador Program

      • Southside ReLeaf works with community partners in creating educational programming that will build the brain trust of our neighbors so residents have the capacity to join in decision making about how to make Richmond’s Southside resilient, greener, and more beautiful.

      • Southside ReLeaf Contact Form

    • James River Park

      • Volunteer opportunities

      • The James River Park System is a 600-acre urban oasis that features rocks, rapids, meadows, forests, and an abundance of plant and animal life. It is a pristine bit of wilderness in the heart of Richmond. (James river park works closely with Richmond Parks and Rec in maintaining and stewardship of the park)

      • James River Park Contact Page

      • Park Calendar

    • RVA H2O

      • Richmond Water Systems

      • RVAH2O is driven by the belief that everyone can make a difference and help us achieve the goal of cleaner water faster for all of Richmond.

      • RVA H2O Contact Page

    • City of Richmond -Department of Public Utilities

      • Stormwater Credit

      • The Stormwater Utility offers customers the opportunity to receive a reduction in their stormwater fee. Customers who reduce stormwater runoff or who improve the quality of the stormwater runoff from their property to the Richmond stormwater system and/or the surrounding water bodies by installing "green practices" will qualify for the credit.

      • Email DPU

    • Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD)

      • Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)

      • The Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) is an urban cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Virginia’s participating Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). These practices can be installed in areas of your yard where problems like erosion, poor drainage, or poor vegetation occur. Qualified sites shall be used for residential, commercial, or recreational purposes with a proposed practice that addresses a need.

      • VASWCD Contact Page