National Parks Conservation Association’s Post

We applaud the monumental bipartisan achievement as Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper's CORE Act and Dolores River Conservation Act clear the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, securing bipartisan support for the first time. Covering 488,000 acres of Colorado's public lands, these bills are a testament to the collaborative spirit needed to protect our treasured natural spaces. Bennet and Hickenlooper's dedication to safeguarding 420,000 acres through the CORE Act, fostering economic growth and preserving outdoor recreation opportunities, is commendable. The Dolores River Conservation Act, protecting an additional 68,000 acres, reflects the shared commitment to sustainable land management. OIA stands united with Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and acknowledges the vital role these initiatives play in preserving Colorado's iconic landscapes for current and future outdoor enthusiasts. Learn more by following the link below: #publiclands #governmentaffairs #conservation #recreation #outdoorindustry

Federal funding for the past 20 years has seen a tremendous shift in funding. Yet our demands for increased outdoor recreation, balanced with a strong sense of concervation is at risk. More and more people are using a limited poorly managed resource that is having budgets slashed. It is time to have the feds step aside and allow more local management. We need new innovative ways to manage our wild spaces or put up more closed signs… https://ppora.org/oppi

For the first time since 2008, a green bond proposed in Rhode Island includes no money for land preservation programs. One legislator is introducing a bill to put an additional $16 million in the $50-million bond proposal to purchase undeveloped land, acquire farmland easements and manage open space. Conservation groups including Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Land Trust Council, farming organizations, Rhode Island Food Policy Council and other local food advocates, and hunters have all vocalized strong support for the bill. Funding for land preservation across New England is critical to addressing the global crises of climate, biodiversity, and inequity by sustaining the natural infrastructure that supports all life on earth. To succeed, we must work across New England: from cities to countryside, and from forests and farms to every community, to permanently protect undeveloped land. https://buff.ly/4aiJd2O #conservation #newengland #northeast #landconservation #wwfc #rhodeisland #openspace #conservationfunding #greenbond

Our national land management agencies need all the support they can to manage natural resources and provide high quality public access, especially in the face of climate change. Please reach out to your congressional representatives to voice your support.

Congress just passed its spending bills for land management agencies, and they include significant cuts to our parks and public lands. • The National Park Service will see a $150M cut, including in overall operations and for National Recreation and Preservation Areas. • The BLM is getting an $81M reduction to its budget, including cuts for National Conservation Lands. • The Forest Service will get a $157M cut which will affect recreation, forest planning, and trails. Adequate funding is crucial for things like staffing, processing permits and reservations, trail maintenance, restoration, and more. With outdoor recreation participation continuing to grow, land managers need more resources, not less, to sustainably care for our public lands. Outdoor Alliance and our member groups will be advocating for stronger appropriations bills for our public lands. Individuals can also make a difference by writing their members of Congress. https://lnkd.in/gY7p7Q3Y

What is the Public Lands Rule, and how would it benefit outdoor recreation? Our yearly policy forecast is live, and in it are five things we think will be a big focus for recreation, conservation, and climate advocacy this year. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the largest landholder in the U.S., managing 245 million acres of public land. The BLM manages these lands for multiple use, which includes extraction and development. Less than 15% of BLM lands are protected through the National Conservation Lands system. The proposed Public Lands Rule offers real ways for the BLM to balance conservation with extraction and development on the land it manages. Learn more about it, and see what other public lands policy we’re tracking in 2024: https://lnkd.in/gc5t7CuB

National Parks need more money, new powers and reforms to governance and land ownership. With 90% of land in Britain's #NationalParks privately owned we can see how far we've come from the founding vision of National Parks which included public access and state ownership. Successive governments have failed to get to grips with a central problem highlighted starkly in our Health Check report which found that only 6% of land in National Parks is managed effectively for nature and that every water body in England’s National Parks is polluted. When National Parks were created 75 years ago, it was under a ‘People’s Charter’ that set out a vision for every citizen to walk, completely immersed in nature, surrounded by the awe and wonder of our most special landscapes and wildlife. This vision still resonates - nature is the top priority for the public when it comes to National Parks. Government should celebrate the 75th with a new People’s Charter that renews the social contract for National Parks, and supports greater public and community ownership of land.    As the #climate and #nature emergency becomes even more urgent, we must see the changes needed for National Parks to thrive for the future. https://lnkd.in/eVVWGPzn

WeConservePA has added new guidance to the WeConservePA Library. Additionally, WeConservePA has refreshed several previously published guides to bring them up to date and include newer best practices. New and updated guides include: Beneficiaries and Backup Holders: Providing Third Parties With Rights but Not Responsibilities Regarding Conservation Easements; Co-Holding Conservation Easements: Considerations for Good Management and Conservation Outcomes; Public Dedication of Land and Fees-in-Lieu for Parks and Recreation in Pennsylvania; Who Has Standing? Conservation Easements in Pennsylvania Courts; Cost of Community Services Studies; and, Guide to the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act: Pennsylvania Act 29. https://lnkd.in/diK2hnzp #technicalguidance #conservationresources

As we look ahead to 2025, The Next Summit is committed to addressing two critical issues affecting public land access in Colorado. Building on the success of our Fix CRUS campaign, we’re excited to partner with like-minded individuals and organizations to make our vision of a more accessible Colorado a reality. 1. Securing Public Access to Colorado Waterways 🚣🏼♂️ 🌊 Legal battles continue over who owns Colorado's riverbeds. We're pushing for legislative clarity to ensure our waterways remain accessible for recreational purposes like fishing and rafting. 2. Addressing the Checkerboard Ownership Conundrum 🏁 🤷🏼♂️ The checkerboard pattern of public and private land ownership creates barriers for outdoor recreation. We’re advocating for legislation to legalize corner crossing, unlocking thousands of acres of public land for responsible use. Be The Change! 📣 Clear, fair laws promote outdoor recreation, protect natural resources, and support local economies. Your support can help us make these policy changes a reality. Join us in ensuring everyone can enjoy Colorado’s great outdoors responsibly. 🌲 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gQqdzj5b #PublicLandAccess #OutdoorRecreation #Colorado #EnvironmentalAwareness #TheNextSummit

DOI just announced that as part of the $900 million allocated for Land and Water Conservation Funding projects/programs for FY 25, $8m will go to a first-ever Tribal LWCF program. Tribes are currently ineligible directly for LWCF funding, and have to use States as a go-between to access critical resources for habitat (re)acquisition. This program could change that. Yes, this is progress, AND: compared to the $455 million allocated for state and local grants, $8m is still pocket change. There are 574 federally recognized tribes, 66 with state recognition, and many other tribal governments whose access is not yet explicitly discernible. This is also the case for Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. The Tribal LWCF program's inception is a hopeful foot in the right direction, and there's still lots more work to be done to level the playing field when it comes to accessing funding (read: power) for land and water conservation, particularly on stolen lands. https://lnkd.in/eUJA9bM8