Fighting for you: An overview of our 2022 policy agenda

For 40 years, the Land Trust Alliance has been at the forefront of shaping federal policies on private land conservation matters. We’ve seen major conservation successes, historic reforms and legislative victories that have propelled our community’s growth. In 2022, the Alliance will continue to work passionately to advance federal policies and secure resources that support land trusts and accelerate the pace of voluntary private land conservation across the country. To that end, we’ve solicited substantial feedback from the land trust community to create a policy agenda that is reflective of land trust priorities. This is our 2022 policy agenda overview. 

Leading the Farm Bill charge.

Farm Bill programs, such as the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Agricultural Land Easement Program and Regional Conservation Partnership Program, aid land trusts by providing matching funds that assist in the protection of America’s productive landscapes. The Alliance will continue working with our members to develop strong recommendations in preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization.

Responding to national emergencies.

The Alliance will continue to advocate for critical resources our community needs in the face of national emergencies, such as the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters. We have and will continue to submit comments on national-level policies that recognize the important role of natural climate solutions in making our communities more resilient and allow land trusts to be eligible applicants for disaster mitigation grant programs.

Enhancing access to federal conservation funds.

In 2022, the Alliance will advocate for increased staffing levels at federal agencies, and seek ways to reduce administrative barriers to funding from specific federal conservation programs, particularly for historically underserved groups. Advocating for increased funding. Over the last 40 years, many national and regional federal conservation programs have been repeatedly underfunded or threatened with severe cuts by the federal government. The Alliance will continue to advocate for robust funding for these programs that support land trusts working to save the places that make America great.

Pursuing third-party holder expansion.

With the right tools in place, the Alliance believes that land trusts can increase the rate of conservation to heights never achieved before. In 2022, we will continue to pursue legislation that would increase opportunities for third parties, such as land trusts, to hold easements under both new and existing conservation programs.

Halting conservation easement tax shelters.

These transactions continue to cost taxpayers billions of dollars while putting at risk our public goodwill along with the critical federal policy and funding programs the federal conservation easement tax incentive has helped to secure. The Alliance will continue to advocate in support of legislative and administrative actions to halt the abuse.

Promoting IRS reforms.

In 2022, the Alliance will continue its long-standing work to pursue legislative opportunities to reorient the IRS away from disqualifying charitable donations due to minor documentation mistakes. We will also continue to work with Congress to find a legislative solution that exempts conservation donations from the state and local tax limitation which has drastically eroded state tax incentives for landowners who donate land or conservation easements to land trusts.

Advancing natural climate solutions.

The land trust community has both an immense opportunity and solemn responsibility to combat climate change and help fulfill the mission of protecting lands in perpetuity. To aid in this effort, our team will continue to advocate for policies and funding that advance natural climate solutions and support the protection, restoration and stewardship of open and working lands that increase climate resilience.

Supporting the 30x30 initiative.

The federal government’s goal of conserving 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 cannot be achieved without the help of private landowners. In 2022, the Alliance will advocate for ambitious national land conservation targets and strategies that drive resources to land trusts and continue to champion the critical role of private lands in meeting this bold national land conservation objective.

Educating on sustainable energy siting.

Increasing pressure to site energy infrastructure, including renewable energy projects, on conserved lands has jeopardized our community’s land conservation work. In coordination with our member land trusts, the Alliance works to educate decision-makers on the importance of sustainable siting to avoid undermining the essential conservation values that the land trust community works so hard to protect.

Creating good jobs that bolster conservation.

The Alliance will advocate for a reenergized Civilian Conservation Corps that would provide much-needed opportunities for underemployed Americans while addressing the growing backlog of park maintenance, habitat restoration and hands-on stewardship needs.

Your fight is our fight

The policy agenda serves as our guidepost and is by no means an exhaustive summation of the priorities we seek to achieve over the next year. Should your land trust have additional initiatives for consideration or be interested in learning more about how you can get involved in advocating for these priorities, please email policy@lta.org. Together, there is nothing we can’t achieve! 

Lori Faeth, Nikki Nesbary, Robert Schwartz and Chelsea Welch make up the Alliance’s government relations team.