CONSERVATION POLICY
A Conservationist’s Dream
Every year, hundreds of millions of people visit America’s national parks and public lands, a trend that continues to climb. Visitors seek adventure, inspirational places to connect with nature and educational experiences that captivate minds young and old. On August 4, the president signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act, a bill that’s being hailed as “the biggest land conservation legislation in a generation” and “a conservationist’s dream.” The historic victory authorizes billions of dollars to address long overdue maintenance and infrastructure needs in our national parks and fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). “Getting this bill passed was a high priority to The Nature Conservancy and a big win for nature,” said Holly Neill, director of conservation policy for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri. The benefits of the LWCF to Missourians are tremendous. The Act uses offshore energy revenues, not taxpayer dollars, to conserve our lands and waters. It also helps ensure important recreational access for hunting and fishing, protects national parks, refuges and forests, creates urban and neighborhood parks and trails, and preserves historic battlefields and cultural sites. Economically, the LWCF also helps create jobs and expand tourism. Outdoor recreational activities in Missouri contribute $14.9 billion in
consumer spending and $889 million in state and local tax revenue annually. Recreation also accounts for 133,000 jobs and generates $4.6 billion in wages. When Congress created the LWCF in 1965, they authorized it to receive $900 million each year. In the past, although the money was there, Congress typically gave the fund less than half that amount. Now, with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, the LWCF will receive full and permanent funding. This is especially important, because the LWCF also helps fund the four main federal land programs
(National Parks, National Forests, Fish and Wildlife, and Bureau of Land Management) and provides grants to state and local governments to acquire new land for recreation and conservation. That’s vital for Missouri’s outdoor enthusiasts. “The fact that this bill passed Congress by huge bipartisan majorities—in the House (310-107) and Senate (73-25) —shows how important conservation is to us as a country,” said Holly. “These are irreplaceable lands and local treasures that will now receive funding and support to ensure they are maintained and protected for generations to come.”
To find out how the LWCF has touched your community, visit lwcfcoalition.com/map-of-lwcf
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