Cash for conservation
iPresident Barack Obama wants to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and steer other cash to conservation in fiscal year 2017.
There’s much for us to cheer in the president’s newest budget, which released last week. But it’s important to remember the document is more an adjustable proposal than a final plan. Congress controls the federal purse strings, so we shouldn’t consider anything in the budget a done deal. Still, it’s a strong starting point for supporters of land conservation.
Like last year, LWCF would be funded at $900 million per year. Here’s a rough breakdown:
- LWCF land acquisitions at $506 million ($260 million more than 2016)*
- Forest Legacy at $62.3 million (same as 2016)
- Section 6 grants at $53.5 million (same as 2016)
- North American Wetlands Conservation Act at $35.1 million (same as 2016)
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program at $500 million ($50 million higher than 2016)
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program at $350 million ($50 million more than 2016)
For a more detailed breakdown of LWCF spending by agency, click here. For a list of federal acquisition project areas by agency, click here.
Congress will next begin to draft its appropriations bills. While LWCF and other programs received a higher level of funding in 2016 compared to preceding years, there is no guarantee that will happen again this year. Communicating to your members of Congress the importance of these programs for conservation — and your land trusts — will help secure funding.
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Bryan David is government relations specialist for the Land Trust Alliance.
NOTE: While the budget proposes fully funding LWCF at $900 million, $475 million comes from discretionary sources, while the rest is considered mandatory. Confused? Those are budget categories. The mandatory funding would require special legislation that is unlikely to happen this year.