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The Nature Conservancy Supports New Legislation to Ensure Funding for National and Local Parks, Forests

Poll shows Americans support federal funding for conservation
despite economic downtown

ARLINGTON, VA — November 6, 2009 —Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a bill today that would provide the biggest federal investment in land conservation in nearly a century. S. 2747, the Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2009, would provide permanent funding to create and expand National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges and other public lands, as well as money to state and local governments for parks and recreation.

The Nature Conservancy strongly supports this legislation, which is similar to a bill introduced in the House by Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV). The American public also supports this kind of commitment to preserving our natural lands and supports their tax dollars to go toward saving our land and water for future generations.

A national poll released today shows that although voters are very concerned about jobs and the economy, three out of five American voters are willing to pay additional taxes for conservation. The poll was conducted by a bipartisan polling team, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R), and commissioned by the Conservancy.

The bills introduced by Congress would not raise taxes, but would ensure that monies from the Land and Water Conservation Fund are dedicated for conservation. The fund was established in 1965 but only a fraction of the proceeds from oil and gas production in federal waters has benefited national and local parks, forests and wildlife areas.

“Permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund would provide the most significant federal investment in land conservation in decades,” said Robert Bendick, director of U.S. Government Relations for the Conservancy. “America’s natural lands and waters and places for recreation in the outdoors are threatened by population growth, infrastructure development and climate change. A Nature Conservancy poll shows that a clear majority of Americans believe protecting the environment and supporting the economy are compatible and strongly support investment in conservation of our country’s land and water. Passage of the Bingaman-Baucus Bill would be a major step in realizing the hope of the great majority of the American people that they can pass along our most valued and productive nature places for the benefit of our children and their children.”

The national poll also found that:

• 70 percent of all voters nationally identify themselves as a “conservationist.”
• More than four in five (81%) say they have visited a state or local park in the past year.
• About two out of three American voters (65%) continue to offer strong support for state and local public investments in conservation – and that support has held steady since 2004 despite the economic downturn.
• More than three-quarters of voters (76%) believe we can continue to protect the environment while strengthening the economy.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.