The Changing Landscapes Initiative is a Smithsonian-led program bridging the gap between scientists and communities. CLI scientists work alongside community members to evaluate the impacts of land use change on wildlife, ecosystem services and community health. Its mission is to combine research with community wisdom to help secure a vibrant and healthy future for people and wildlife.Healthy functioning ecosystems are essential to human life. They provide fresh water, food, a stable climate, resilience to flood and disease, and beautiful landscapes to explore. CLI scientists investigate how changes in land use could impact ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity, both now and in the future.

A visit to this quaint, historic community, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, is like stepping into the past. Stroll the picturesque streets, visit exhibits and museums, or hike our trails and battlefields. Spend a day or a weekend. We have something for everyone, so come and discover Harpers Ferry!

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore...and your journey begins right here!

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NHP is a park-in-development, only being created by Congress in 2002. Although there are over 3,700 acres within the park's authorized boundary, over half of this is still privately owned. Therefore, much of the battlefield is not accessible to the public. Nearly all of the remaining land (approximately 1,500 acres) and buildings are preserved and administered by the Key Partners. Four sites, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NHP Visitor Contact Station, the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Headquarters, Hupp's Hill Civil War Park and Belle Grove Plantation Manor House, are open to the public. All are good places to start learning the many stories of Cedar Creek, Belle Grove and the Shenandoah Valley.

Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL), a program of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, cultivates collaborations between Smithsonian scientists, landowners and managers, citizen scientists and regional partners to study and promote the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land use through research, education and community engagement.

To build a powerful, diverse, and highly-coordinated conservation movement focused on protecting our Commonwealth’s natural resources.

To protect and preserve the native plants of Virginia and their habitats, in order to sustain for generations to come the integrity of the Commonwealth’s rich natural heritage of ecosystems and biodiversity for purposes of enjoyment, enlightenment, sustainable use, and our own very survival.

To conserve and restore West Virginia’s exceptional rivers and streams. We believe that clean water is the foundation of life, and that all people should respect and be able to enjoy clean West Virginia rivers and streams.

To conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.

To work with the citizens of our nine-county region to conserve land, create high-quality communities, strengthen rural economies, celebrate historic resources, protect air and water quality, build smart transportation networks, promote sustainable energy choices, restore wildlife habitat, and improve people’s access to nature.