The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

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See the latest edition of Going Green on NY1 and learn more about conservation funding.

For New Yorkers, conservation funding means protecting the places we love—from the Finger Lakes National Forest and the Fire Island National Recreation area to Central Park and the Hudson River Park. It means clean air, clean water and a healthy community. Cutting conservation funds means putting all of that at risk. So what can New Yorkers do to stand up for the things that make our state great? State Director Bill Ulfelder sat down with NY1 recently to explain why now's the time to raise your voice!

Watch the segment on NY1!

Investing in More than Conservation

Conservation funding protects parks, forests, wildlife areas, protected coastlines and other places for outdoor recreation, in addition to the fundamental elements of life on planet Earth as we know it like clean air, water and land for people and for wildlife. By funding conservation programs, we're investing in...

America's Great Outdoors
For New Yorkers, the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative is extremely important because it sets out to create new opportunities to connect Americans, their families and children to nature and outdoor recreation by calling for a new generation of urban and community parks.

Economic Recovery
A recent study by the National Parks Conservation Association found that every federal dollar invested in national parks generates at least four dollars of economic value to the public.

Jobs
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation provides millions of jobs and contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Hunting and fishing generate more than 1.6 million jobs and more than $76 billion in sportsmen-related activities.

The Future
Conservation is a good investment in our country’s future through the benefits of clean water supplies, productive land and storm protection, and through the economic return from tourism, outdoor recreation, hunting and angling.

Threatening the Great Outdoors

A threat to conservation, to the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative and to the future of our planet is the House of Representatives' spending bill. The spending bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 19, 2011 disproportionately cuts conservation programs by 90-100%. Here is why, now, more than ever, this is a threat to our way of life:

• America has a long and proud history of conserving our lands and water, but over development, pollution and a changing climate – have accelerated the risk to America’s great outdoors.
• We are rapidly losing the natural resources that we depend on for our food, water and health, and the natural places that make our nation special.
• Americans, especially children, are increasing disconnected to nature—and that is hurting our health. Children under six spend an average of two hours a day in front of a video screen, contributing to the problem of more than 22 million children under six being overweight across the world. Spending time in nature makes kids happier, healthier and smarter.

Raise Your Voice!

Help protect America's Great Outdoors. Take action now and let lawmakers know you support conservation funding. Urge Congress to save the programs that protect the health and safety of the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe and habitat for America’s plants and animals.