Vermont Wildlife a Public Trust Resource

Governor Shumlin signed H.91, a bill that clarifies that Vermont's wildlife is a “public trust” resource. Recent water-related advocacy by VNRC culminated in the passage of Act 199 of 2008, which, among other things, declared Vermont’s groundwater to be a public trust resource. This wildlife bill does something similar.

“There are strong parallels between the public's broad interest in our waters and its broad interest in our wildlife," said Jamey Fidel, VNRC's forest and biodiversity program director. “This law affirms that our wildlife, like our waters, are to be held in trust by the state for the benefit of all Vermonters.”