2020 Policy Agenda
2020 Land Trust Alliance Policy Agenda
As a national land conservation organization that represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 5 million members nationwide, the Land Trust Alliance works passionately to advance federal policies and secure resources that support land trusts. Our policy agenda for 2020 reflects our member priorities and advances private land conservation.
Response to National Emergencies
Seek resources to assist land trusts.
Land trusts, like many entities, can be impacted by national emergencies such as the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. The Alliance will monitor and analyze emergency response legislation and advocate in support of policies and resources to support our community.
Farm Bill
Lead the charge on reauthorization, rulemaking and implementation.
The Farm Bill is the single largest source of federal funding for private land conservation. It is a top priority for the Alliance. We will lead our members through the reauthorization and rulemaking processes and monitor implementation.
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Seek full and dedicated funding.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is our nation’s signature conservation funding source. The Alliance is committed to engaging through the LWCF Coalition to secure full and dedicated funding.
North American Wetlands Conservation Act
Pursue reauthorization and increased funding.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act has helped to protect significant amounts of wetland habitat over the last 30 years. The Alliance is focused on ensuring this important program is reauthorized at appropriate funding levels.
Tax Shelters
Put an end to abusive conservation easement tax shelters.
Abusive conservation easement tax shelters continue to cost taxpayers billions of dollars and put at risk our public goodwill and the critical federal policy and funding programs it helped us secure. The Alliance will continue to advocate in support of legislative and administrative actions to halt the abuse.
IRS Reform
Inoculate conservation donations and tax credits from harm.
The IRS continues to focus on innocent donor documentation mistakes (often called “foot faults”) that result in disqualification of truly charitable donations. The Alliance is working to safeguard these donations by pursuing legislation that reorients the IRS away from such minor mistakes. Additionally, the Alliance is actively working with Congress to exempt conservation donations from the State and Local Tax limitation.
Energy Infrastructure Siting
Ensure practices and policies do not threaten land conservation.
Siting of energy infrastructure projects increasingly is putting our community’s land conservation work in jeopardy. The Alliance is coordinating with our members to educate decision makers on the importance of avoiding placing infrastructure facilities on conserved lands.
Climate Solutions
Drive funding to land trusts to protect resilient lands and advance natural climate solutions.
The nation’s land trusts and landowners can lead the way within the land sector in addressing the impacts of climate change. Our policy goal is to drive funding to lands that increase climate resiliency, as well as policies and funding that advance natural climate solutions, and that support the protection, restoration and stewardship of open and working lands. The Alliance recognizes responsible grassland management, including proper ruminant animal grazing techniques, and proper forest management can support these goals.
Advance conservation-compatible development of renewable energy.
Proposals that site renewable energy infrastructure projects on conserved lands can raise challenges for the land trust community. The Alliance is coordinating with our members to educate decision-makers on the importance of the sustainable location of renewable energy as guided by regional perspectives and without undermining the essential conservation values the land trust community works so hard to protect.
Federal Land Protection Programs
Expand federal programs to allow third-party holders.
The Alliance is pursuing legislation to allow third parties to hold easements under the Forest Legacy Program if a state voluntarily chooses to use this option. Similarly, we are seeking new authority under the LWCF to grant eligible third parties the right to hold easements.
More Information
To stay abreast of developments or take a more active role in our policy work, email policy@lta.org.