[From WVIR-TV NBC)

Environmental advocates from across Virginia and parts of the southeastern United States are meeting in Madison County this week for the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute. They are working on different ways of looking at environmental issues, and how to enlighten local and state governments that make the development decisions impacting natural resources.

Organizers hope institute students follow in institute alumni footsteps and find environmental solutions.

"We can't solve these problems alone. And the cost to us as everyday citizens, the cost to local governments, to state and federal governments is too much. So we have to find ways to work through these problems together instead of always being at loggerheads and pointing fingers of blame," said Tanya Denckla Cobb with the UVA Institute for Environmental Negotiation.

This is the 10th year of the institute. The Madison Leg Institute goes through Friday. Students will meet several times throughout the year to look at environmental issues in other parts of the state.