Federal Appropriations for Land Conservation

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is the principal source of land acquisition funding for federal agencies and provides a matching program for state land acquisition.

Unfortunately, it has been an easy target for budget cuts, falling from its authorized limit of $900 million to just $154 million in Fiscal Year 2008. The President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget includes only $42 million for federal projects and no state grants, but the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee is off to a better start with a combined $225 million for LWCF and Forest Legacy.

Thanks in part to your support, on March 19th, Congressmen Tom Allen (D-ME) and Jim Gerlach (R-PA) sent a bipartisan letter signed by 84 House members to the House Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations requesting $120 million for the Forest Legacy Program, $125 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state grant program, and $278 million for the LWCF federal program in FY 2009. Click here for a copy of the letter and thank your Representatives if they signed on.

Forest Legacy Program

The Forest Legacy program is a voluntary program of the USDA Forest Service providing grants to states for the purchase of conservation easements and fee acquisition of environmentally-sensitive or threatened forest lands. The United States loses more than half a million acres of privately-owned timberland to development each year, resulting in a loss of livelihood for some, a loss of places to explore nature for many, a loss of environmental quality for us all. The Forest Legacy Program provides an alternative to selling timberland for development: assistance in private, voluntary conservation. 1,145,586 acres have been protected as of February 2006. See a list of projects by fiscal year.

The Forest Legacy Program provides grants to enrolled states to purchase conservation easements or fee acquisition on environmentally important forest lands that are threatened with conversion to non-forest uses. Land trusts can provide invaluable assistance with their experience bringing landowners and projects to the table, negotiating and monitoring easements, and can participate in many other ways. More...

Federal Highway Bill Funding

The 2005 highway bill (SAFETEA-LU) provides funding for several programs of interest to land trusts. In particular, since 1992 the Transportation Enhancements program has provided over $10 billion for projects such as: acquisition of scenic or historic easements and sites, Conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails and environmental mitigation of highways. Click here for more.

State Wildlife Grants

The federal State Wildlife Grants Program is our nation's core program for preventing wildlife from becoming endangered. It funds the state wildlife action plans and provides annual funding for state wildlife agencies to implement these plans. Many states re-grant these funds to partners like land trusts and the plans themselves are a useful tool for land trusts to prioritize acquisition and stewardship decisions.

The Land Trust Alliance and more than 300 land trusts are members of the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition working to secure increased funding for wildlife. More information from:

Healthy Forests Reserve Program

In November 2003, the Congress established a new "Healthy Forests Reserve Program", providing payments for private forest landowners who agree to plans to protect and improve habitat for endangered and potentially endangered species. Regrettably, this program included the purchase of 99-year conservation easements, rather than permanent easements. Nevertheless, this program may provide significant financial assistance for landowners wanting to pursue management of their forest lands for endangered species. Many details are yet to be decided, and funding will depend on future appropriations.

Online Catalog of Federal Funding for Watershed Protection

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides the Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection online as an easy to use, searchable website. The site provides information for watershed practitioners and others on 84 Federal funding sources that may be available to help fund various watershed-related projects. The Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection is located here: http://cfpub.epa.gov/fedfund/. (updated 7/30/07)

News on Federal Programs from the Trust for Public Land

Check the Trust for Public Land's Washington Watch for news and updates on federal funding opportunities. The Washington Watch provides timely information and highlights on public policy issues and federal funding opportunities that relate to land conservation. Washington Watch will be updated every two weeks throughout the legislative cycle. (posted 1/16/04)

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