The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The Conservancy enters policy discussions and takes positions on legislation when it is relevant to conserving biodiversity in Delaware. We also  work to increase funding for public land acquisition and management through appropriations and public finance campaigns.

Below are some of the policy issues where the Conservancy is taking a position.

Public Funding

Delaware's Agricultural Lands Preservation program has purchased development rights on more than 564 farms totaling 94,604 acres since its establishment in 1991. In each of these transactions, landowners have donated more than half of the market value of the development rights, creating a tremendous cost savings to the state. The Conservancy supports adequate funding to help this program serve farmers interested in keeping their lands intact for agricultural  purposes and natural resource protection.

In 2009, the state permanently protected 835 acres of forestland in Kent and Sussex counties through the Forestland Preservation Program (FPP). Enacted in 2005, the FPP lacked funding until the Conservancy, with support from the Longwood Foundation, matched funds allocated by the General Assembly in 2007 to launch the program. Modeled after the successful Agricultural Lands Preservation Program, the FPP supports the pursuit of conservation easement agreements with willing landowners aimed at protecting working forests and forestland habitat. These agreements also preserve property ownership and timber harvesting that is consistent with a management plan preparing by a professional forester.

Climate Change

The U.S. Senate is debating the Clean Energy, Jobs and American Power Act, a bill which builds upon progress made by the House of Representatives last June when it passed its American Clean Energy and Security Act. Both pieces of legislation include provisions to protect forests around the world in order to lower global carbon dioxide emissions. The Senate version also calls for natural resource protection that helps communities withstand the harmful impacts of climate change. It also calls for a 20 percent emissions reduction from 2005 carbon dioxide levels by 2020

Check in with The Nature Conservancy’s Climate Change Initiative.

Delaware is one of ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the first mandatory, market-based effort in the United States to reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector 10% by 2018. Through RGGI, states sell nearly all emission allowances through auctions and invest proceeds in consumer benefits: energy efficiency, renewable energy and other clean energy technologies. By turning emissions reductions into a marketable asset, RGGI gives companies incentives to invest in cleaner technologies and the flexibility to meet goals that will reduce pollution at little to no cost for consumers.

Bird Conservation

Andrew Manus, Assistant State Director for the Delaware chapter, referenced the Conservancy’s State of the Birds report when testifying before Congress on the past and future of bird conservation and the importance of Joint Ventures.

Our Accountability

The Conservancy's strong performance is recognized by Charity Navigator as exceeding or meeting industry standards.

More on Accountability

Annual Reports and Financial Statements

2007 Annual Report
PDF 15.5MB | Download

2007 IRS Form 990
PDF 4.1MB | Download

Previous Year's Annual Reports

Position Statements

March 1, 2012
Acting state director Andrew Manus's comments on the FY13 DNREC Capital Improvement budget.

February 28, 2012
The Delaware Chapter presents comments on the DE Department of Agriculture's FY13 budget for Capital Improvement.

February 16, 2012
Acting state director Andrew Manus weighs in on funding for "natural capital" in the DNREC FY2013 Budget.

November 9, 2011
The Conservancy weighs in on FY2013 funding for DNREC's Natural Heritage Program and a Phragmites private lands cost-share.

November 8, 2011
Comments on FY2013 funding for the Delaware Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Lands Preservation, Forestland Preservation and Young Farmers programs.  

October 25, 2011
Roger L. Jones, Jr., state director for The Nature Conservancy of Delaware, writes to Senator Coons and Senator Carper about National Flood Insurance Reform legislation pending in the House and Senate.

February 10, 2011
Roger L. Jones, Jr., state director for The Nature Conservancy of Delaware, weighs in on Delaware's Open Space Program and other elements of the FY2012 DNREC Budget

April 29, 2010
The Conservancy Weighs in on the FY2011 DNREC Capital Budget and DE Open Space Program

February 18, 2010
Comments on the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's FY2011 Budget

February 18, 2010
Comments on the Department of Agriculture's FY2011 Budget

December 18, 2009
Thanks to Congressman Castle for Support in WRDA

November 9, 2009
Comments on the Department of Agriculture's FY2011 Budget

March 6, 2009
Comments on the Department of Agriculture's FY2010 Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearing

February 19, 2009
Comments on the DNREC's FY2010 Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearing

November 13, 2008
Comments on the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's FY2010 Budget Hearing

November 7, 2008
Comments on the Department of Agriculture's FY2010 Budget Hearing

October, 2008
Transition Proposals for a New Administration and a New Congress

October 28, 2008
Horseshoe Crab Harvest Regulation 

October 20, 2008
Statement On Offshore Oil and Gas Development

September 20, 2008
Draft Regulation for RGGI Carbon Dioxide Budget Trading - Official Comments From The Nature Conservancy

August 14, 2008
Proposed Nanticoke Wildlife Area Land Exchange (ABC Woodlands Tract)

November 28, 2008
An Open Letter to Governer-Elect Markell

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