"It's rewarding. You can see the damage that's been done to people internally, and to see a little smile … it's pretty cool. I've teared up a few times. That's pretty much all I need in a day."

— Michael Kardas, At Ease instructor and U.S. Army veteran

For many of us, stay-at-home orders have resulted in more time with our children and a renewed focus on the natural world. That makes now the perfect time to talk to your kids about climate change.

The Land Trust Alliance and our 1,000 member land trusts welcome the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's thorough and revealing report today on abuse of the federal conservation tax incentive.

Since it was created more than 50 years ago, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has supported over 41,000 state and local park projects, contributed $778 billion annually to the nation's economy and provided 5.2 million sustainable jobs nationwide. It's an amazing conservation tool.

For land trusts that dream big when it comes to tackling climate change but lack the financial resources to implement large-scale resilience projects, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's new hazard mitigation assistance grant program offers a helping hand.

Among the silver linings of this challenging time are the many improvements and innovations in virtual engagements.

As land trusts continue to navigate the hardships posed by the coronavirus, the Land Trust Alliance is stepping up to help its members in a big way.

And with the stroke of a pen, it became official: The Land and Water Conservation Fund now has full and dedicated funding. That means that $900 million will be committed each year to protecting important land, water and recreation areas that benefit all Americans.

For the past few months, the Land Trust Alliance has collected online statements from land trusts around the country affirming their commitment to end the structural racism that puts Black lives in danger every day.

While the history books may best remember 2020 as the year of a global pandemic, it also could well be remembered for the realization of a 50-year-old dream across the conservation community: securing full and dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.