RESTORE THE LAND AND WATER
CONSERVATION FUND!
What do Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park, the Silvio
O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in New England,
California’s Tahoe National Forest, and Virginia’s Glendale Civil
War battlefield have in common? They are among the scores of
parks and refuges nationwide where irreplaceable wildlands,
fish and wildlife habitats, scenic areas, and historic sites may be
lost forever due to
lack of federal funding
for their protection.
In March, TPL
joined more than 50
groups in releasing a
report, Conserving
America’s Landscapes,
that urges Congress
to fully fund the
Land and Water
Conservation Fund
(LWCF), the largest
single source of federal land conservation
and recreation fund-
ing. Congress created
the fund in 1965 to meet the nation’s growing desire to preserve
natural areas, culturally and historically significant landmarks, and
outdoor recreational opportunities. The lawmakers authorized up
to $900 million each year for the program from federal offshore
oil and gas leases. But in the 44 years since, that amount has
been appropriated only twice. Over the last ten years, LWCF
funding has declined dramatically, to a total of only $155 million
in the fiscal year 2008.
TPL led the effort to develop the report, which was released
by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition, a broad-based alliance of wilderness, wildlife, sporting, trails, conservation,
historic preservation, and business groups. In addition to recommending full annual LWCF appropriations—both the portion that goes to federal projects and money to help states
and communities conserve land and create parks—the coalition urged lawmakers to set aside $900 million each year from
offshore oil and gas revenues to fund the program in perpetuity. It also recommended an increase in funding for the federal
Forest Legacy Program, which is dedicated to forest conservation, and that a portion of revenues from carbon auctions be
used to acquire land that will help wildlife and natural resource
systems adapt to environmental change.
To download a copy of the report or for more information
on federal funding for conservation and on TPL’s Federal Affairs
Program, go to www.tpl.org/federal.
BLOGGING ON CITY PARKS
In Columbus, Ohio, a downtown
mall will be razed to build a new
park. A park activist in Los Angeles
has written an editorial on the
importance of parks in tough times.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, 200
parks workers created a five-acre park in a single day. A book
has been published on designing small parks. And newspapers
in four U.S. cities are highlighting the role of 1930s Works
Progress Administration in helping to shape their park systems.
These stories from around the world represent only a few
recent posts from the City Parks Blog—a new venture from
TPL’s Center for City Park Excellence (CCPE) and the City Parks
Alliance. With content drawn from the experience and
resources of its sponsors, and supporting links from across the
Web, City Parks Blog seeks to become a timely source of urban
park information for park professionals and advocates.
City Parks Blog is just one of several CCPE projects. The
center maintains a database of information about large city
park systems, publishes on best practices for parks, consults on
park system improvement, and advises park advocacy groups
on ways to become more effective. For more information, go
to www.tpl.org/ccpe.
CAN WE DEPEND ON YOU?
MICHAEL WRAY
B
ecoming a MONTHLY DONOR is
an easy and convenient way to help
TPL save more land for people. Automatic
monthly payments through your credit or
debit card help build a dependable pool
of funds, so TPL can act quickly and
decisively when land needs protection.
For more information, contact
Darlene Bellucci at 800.714.LAND (5263)
