THE NATURE CONSERVANCY SUPPORTS NEW LEGISLATION TO ENSURE FUNDING FOR MONTANA PARKS AND OPEN LAND

Poll shows Americans support federal funding for conservation despite economic downturn

Helena, Montana — 6 November, 2009 — Senator Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico, and Senator Max Baucus, Montana, 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 and Wildlife Refuges, as well as money for state and local efforts that enhance recreation and conservation.

Montana has been a beneficiary of these funds for many years. LWCF has supported acquisition of land in the Blackfoot and Centennial Valleys, as well as conservation easements, particularly on the Rocky Mountain Front. Easements compensate private landowners for limiting development on their property, thus conserving valuable habitat for wildlife and preserving clean water.

“This funding is really a good deal for communities and for nature. It lets families hold on to land that they’ve worked for generations, at the same time; it keeps land available for wildlife. It really supports the big, open country that’s what Montana is all about. We thank Senator Baucus for leading the way.” says Kat Imhoff, State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Montana.

The American public also supports this kind of commitment to preserving our natural lands and the use of their tax dollars in conserving these valuable resources for future generations.

A national poll released today shows that, although voters are very concerned about jobs and the economy, 76% of them believe we can continue to protect the environment and strengthen the economy. The poll was conducted by a bipartisan polling firm and commissioned by The Conservancy.

The bills introduced by Congress would not raise taxes, but would ensure that money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund are permanently dedicated for conservation. The fund, made up of proceeds from oil and gas production in federal waters, was established in 1965 but only a fraction of the authorized funds have actually been spent as originally intended on national and local parks, forests and wildlife areas.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.