The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation

VA RACER

VA RACER, the acronym for Virginia Rural Area Conservation and Economic Restoration, was coined after Ward Burton, Daytona 500 winner and five-time NASCAR Cup winner. Mr. Burton has devoted his entire adult life to conservation and conservation education. Today, VA RACER is a community-based, citizen-driven conservation initiative for the rural areas of Virginia near Mr. Burton's home of Halifax County and extending to the Rocky Mount and Franklin County regions of Southside Virginia. It is local conservation that is in the initial stages and being lead by the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation in cooperation with many other state and federal conservation leaders. The program is

defined by cooperation and collaboration
delivered by landowners and their partners
designed to enrich the quality of life for the people of Virginia

VA RACER is a working alliance of everyday citizens - of landowners, communities, service organizations, conservation groups, academic institutions, local governments, and partnering state and federal agencies, all committed to a common belief that strong communities and prosperous economies go hand-in-hand with healthy lands, forests and clean waters.

Why is VA RACER starting work in the Upper Roanoke Watershed?

VA RACER is starting its conservation work in the Upper Roanoke Watershed for three reasons:

Its Culture, History, and Biology of the Watershed are Unique and Important - The Upper Roanoke Watershed has played a vital role in the history and culture of Virginia and the Nation.
The Health of the Watershed is Threatened - A confluence of biological indicators point to serious conservation challenges in the Upper Roanoke Watershed.
The Economy of the Watershed Is Weakened - The Upper Roanoke Watershed has relied on natural resources to support its local economy for over 300 years.

Who Are the People Working on VA RACER in the Upper Roanoke Watershed?

VA RACER is a multi-faceted partnership of landowners, communities, academic institutions, community service organizations, conservation groups, local governments, and partnering State and Federal agencies. Each and every partner is part of the decision-making process that transparently plans, funds, implements, monitors, and assesses conservation and economic restoration in the Upper Roanoke Watershed. The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation will lead the project coordination, education and awareness and Ward Burton as the project spokesperson.

Several founding groups and organizations initially establishing VA RACER in the Upper Roanoke Watershed entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding. Mead Westvaco has been targeted as a signature corporate sponsor of the program and will be considered for inclusion of the MOU upon determining the terms by which they will sponsor the project. The May 2006 MOU affirms a cooperative relationship and collaborative initiative "to address watershed health and rural economic issues [through] restoration and protection of fish and wildlife habitats in the Upper Roanoke River watersheds in southwest Virginia utilizing community-led projects and environmental outreach for private landowners and school-age youth."

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