Release Funds for Conservation

EARTHKEEPING NEWS
A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY

Volume Nine, Number Six
September/October 2000

Call To Action

Urge Your Senators To Release Funds For Conservation

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 has been critical in acquiring land to protect from potential development America's national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and public land in all 50 states. Although amounts in the Conservation Fund are meant to be used only for conservation and recreation purposes, since 1980 Congress and the President have diverted much of this funding for deficit reduction and other budgetary purposes.

Because of chronic shortages in funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the backlog of federal acquisition needs, including key wetlands, watersheds, wilderness, wildlife habitat, and historic and recreational sites, now totals over $10 billion. The lack of funding for the State grant portion of the Fund has hampered state and local efforts to protect parklands, coastlines, habitat areas and open space.

This year the House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 2000, HR 701 (or CARA 2000). It is now waiting for Senate floor action after being marked up in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This bill provides that revenues from oil drilling (Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance) be deposited in a Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund (CRAF), and that $900 million from this Fund be made available each fiscal year after 2001 for conservation -- 50% for federal purposes, and 50% for state grants.

In other words, grants from this permanent appropriation in CRAF would help states that develop conservation plans, local governments, private organizations, and Indian tribes to purchase conservation easements to protect farmland, wild areas, urban parks and historic sites and open spaces from development.

Ask your senators up for re-election what their positions are on this issue, and urge your other senators to press for an early vote in 2001.

For more information on land use planning, conservation easements, purchase of development rights and tax benefits to landowners, contact: