ABOUT THE RIVANNA FOREST RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP
The Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership is made up of nonprofits, community organizations, government entities, and interested citizens and businesses committed to managing invasive plant species and promoting riparian forest health along the urban Rivanna River corridor in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Partnership was established through the Rivanna River Forest Health and Resilience Project, which was funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chesapeake Bay Program. Though the initial grant concluded on May 14, 2025, the Partnership will continue to work together to carry on and expand the important work that was started.
​​To support the development and work of the new Partnership, project consultant, Dialogue + Design Associates, facilitated three meetings in May, September, and October, 2024, all held at the Virginia Department of Forestry office in Charlottesville. During these meetings, partners used consensus decision-making to:
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Establish the Partnership’s vision, mission, goals, and objectives
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Agree on a general strategy for invasive species management, prioritizing protection of existing forest canopy and including both containment and suppression
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Select the highest priority management units for invasive management, including which units would be managed by contractors and volunteers
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Consider how to share project information widely with the community and how to safely and effectively engage volunteers in project field work
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In late 2024, the Partnership established a Steering Committee to continue organizing and leading the work of the Partnership. Current members include: Rivanna Conservation Alliance (serving as Partnership coordinator and fiscal agent), City of Charlottesville Parks & Recreation, County of Albemarle, Blue Ridge PRISM, Rivanna Master Naturalists, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, and The Nature Conservancy.
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​Four Action Teams are also supporting the Partnership, focusing on strategic planning/fundraising, field work, tracking project impact, and outreach and education.