Federal Land Conservation Programs The federal government is a vital
source of funding for land and natural resource conservation in
America — helping to save great parks and public lands, productive
farms and ranches, vital wildlife habitat, healthy watersheds, and
more. Federal funding typically leverages contributions from state,
local, and private sources — enabling the protection of some of the
highest priority resources in the country. But public funding for
conservation is never guaranteed. In fact, many of our nation’s most
important conservation programs are seriously underfunded or in danger
of expiring! Maintaining these programs requires dedicated,
coordinated, and effective political advocacy, by the Alliance and our
partners. Building support for federal conservation programs is one of
the Alliance’s top policy priorities. This overview of six major
conservation programs may help you find the right match for your
conservation project. You can follow the links to more in-depth
information. Farm Bill The 2014 Farm Bill was a big win for
conservation! It provides billions of dollars for a suite of
conservation programs, including $1 billion over ten years for
conservation easements. By far the largest source of federal funding
for land conservation, the Farm Bill supports conservation easements
on farm and ranch land, grasslands, wetlands, and forests. It also
funds conservation partnerships and sustainable land management
practices. Land and Water Conservation Fund This fund is one of our
best resources for creating and improving public lands. It uses a
portion of revenues from offshore oil drilling to protect public
lands, including parks, trails, forests, shorelines, and historic
sites. Its legacy is outstanding: more than 3 million acres enjoyed by
over 500 million people every year. But Congress regularly withholds
up to two-thirds of its funding — and the program is in danger of
expiring in 2015! North American Wetlands Conservation Act This
program protects extensive wetlands and other habitats for migratory
birds — while strengthening local economies, providing clean water
supplies, and protecting communities from storms and floods. It has
helped to protect 26 million acres in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Grants through the program are so competitive that they leverage an
average of $3.20 for every federal dollar. But the program has expired
and could disappear unless Congress reauthorizes it! Forest Legacy
This program helps prevent the fragmentation or destruction of
environmentally significant forests, at a time when we’re losing
over half a million acres of private forest land every year! The
program protects privately owned forest land through voluntary
conservation easements or sale of land to the U.S. Forest Service and
state governments. Endangered Species Grants Through habitat
conservation, threatened or endangered species can join the ranks of
success stories like the bald eagle, the grizzly bear, and the
California condor. Over half of currently listed species rely on
habitats on private land — which can be protected with funding
through Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. America’s Great
Outdoors The Alliance and hundreds of land trusts helped shape
America’s Great Outdoors, a new agenda for conservation and
recreation in America. This agenda established a vision for
reconnecting people with nature, conserving and restoring natural
resources, and forging partnerships for conservation. America’s
Great Outdoors now helps to guide federal conservation policies.
