The election of Donald Trump, the united Congress and a changing political climate affect virtually every area of national policy important to land trusts.

At a time of political change, one thing is clear and consistent: Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love and are even willing to tax themselves to protect those places.

Our marathon to make the conservation easement tax incentive permanent is won! And three years’ re-authorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund — including an impressive $450 million for this fiscal year — is secured.

Recent letters to the editor in Utah and Oregon illustrate how the Alliance is helping land trusts across the nation use opinion pages to influence public policy.

For nearly 20 years Alicia Reban has been dedicated to preserving Nevada’s open spaces. As executive director of the Nevada Land Trust, Alicia took the Land Trust Alliance Ambassador pledge at a time when her state’s senior senator, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, was majority leader.

Jamey French wears many hats, but the role that perhaps best describes this New Englander’s wide range of pursuits is “ambassador.”

While the challenge of making permanent the enhanced tax benefits for donations of conservation easements can seem never ending, its land trust backers never quit. In fact, while Congress takes its summer recess, there is reason for optimism.

It wasn’t the action we wanted, but it’s good news nonetheless.