Virginia Working Landscapes
Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL) is a program of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) located in Front Royal, Virginia. SCBI serves as an umbrella for the Smithsonian’s global effort to conserve species and train future generations of conservationists. VWL began in 2010 in response to a strong grass-roots demand from private landowners, conservation NGOs, and citizens for leadership from the Smithsonian on native plant and wildlife conservation in the region, especially on working lands. We partner with a network of NGOs, agencies, regional landowners & citizen scientists to promote the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land-use through research, education and community engagement.
RESEARCH: Our team of scientists leads on-the-ground habitat monitoring to reveal how landuse practices impact wildlife and how biodiversity benefits working landscapes.
ENGAGEMENT: VWL works closely with the community and partner with citizen scientists and landowners to conduct biodiversity surveys on private and public lands and create an information sharing network to promote best practices for conservation.
EDUCATION: VWL and SCBI lead public lectures, seminars, workshops and courses that focus on a wide range of conservation topics. With the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, we support a robust intern and graduate fellow program to train future leaders in conservation science and practice.