DENVER—A new report released today by the Center for Western Priorities, Funding America’s Conservation Future, offers a data-driven analysis of the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s (LWCF) accomplishments and examines what is at stake if Congress fails to renew the critical land conservation program.
The report, which identified and examined upwards of 800 LWCF projects proposed from 2014 through 2017, provides a unique look at the scope and scale of LWCF successes for communities and states across the nation.
“Virtually every single American is positively impacted by the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” said Andre Miller, co-author of the report. “We have LWCF to thank for permanently conserving hundreds of thousands of acres of national public lands, enhancing access for hunters and anglers, and protecting parks from the risk of trophy home development. That’s just in the four years examined. This is one of those programs the government has done right.”
The analysis found 293 U.S. public land and Forest Legacy LWCF projects were successfully completed in 42 states from 2014 through 2017, permanently conserving 431,000 acres and protecting America’s parks and public lands from development. An additional 92 LWCF projects proposed during this period, encompassing 221,000 acres, are in the process of being completed.
LWCF is the primary source of funding to enhance access to public lands across the country, but the popular program will expire if Congress does not reauthorize it by the end of September 2018. Established in 1964, the program takes funds from offshore drilling and uses them to reinvest in outdoor recreation and public land protections. LWCF monies are used to create local parks, ballfields, and swimming pools, to enhance access for hunting and fishing, and to protect national parks and wildlife refuges from the risks of residential development.
If Congress fails to reauthorize and fully fund LWCF, a minimum of 223 LWCF projects that would protect 318,000 acres are on the line.
Miller continued, “A failure to permanently renew and fully fund LWCF will put hundreds of thousands of acres at risk. The program has increased access to our public lands and protected America’s parks for more than half-a-century, and now it’s up to Congress to permanently reauthorize and provide full, dedicated funding for LWCF.”
Along with the printed report, the Center for Western Priorities is releasing an interactive map showing LWCF projects examined in the report. This map is available to news outlets and partner organizations for linking or embedding. Contact Media Director Aaron Weiss for instructions on how to include the map in your story or website.
The report determined on-the-ground outcomes of 795 unique U.S. public land and Forest Legacy projects proposed or administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Forest Service between 2014 and 2017. It also provides case studies for eight LWCF projects, including over 7,000 acres protected along Trumbull Creek in Montana in 2016; over 4,000 acres protected in Tennessee’s Sherwood Forest in 2015; and the ongoing effort to protect nearly 3,000 acres of El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico.
A PDF of the report is available for download.
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Proceeds directly benefit Girls on the Run Utah!
Girls on the Run Utah is excited to partner with CREW Utah, an organization dedicated to advancing the success of women in commercial real estate. Women Run the City encourages women and girls of all ages to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle.
First 30 Girls on the Run runners register for free!
Use promo code: CREWGIRLSRUN2018
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As more students head back to school, I’m reaching out with a timely consumer health story idea. It pertains to food allergies in children, which have shot up by approximately 50% since the 1990s. In fact about one in 13 children (or about two per classroom) have some type of food allergy, making it essential that parents, kids and schools know how to prevent, identify and respond to food allergy reactions.
To make sure students stay safe and healthy - while also reducing the stress and anxiety felt by parents - BJ Lanser, MD, Director of the Pediatric Food Allergy Program at National Jewish Health, offers four tips:
Governor Jeb Bush to Host National Summit on
Education Reform
Governor Jeb Bush will open the Foundation for Excellence in Education’s 11th annual National Summit on Education Reform on Thursday, December 5, in Washington, D.C.
“Paving the way for America’s future must begin with our children—by giving them access to a high quality, 21st century education. That requires the hard work of upending the status quo and transforming an entrenched system into one that puts students first.
“I am committed to the proven policy solutions that will make reform a reality. For the policymakers, education leaders and advocates ready to carry this vital work forward, our 11th annual National Summit on Education Reform is the place to be.”
This year’s exceptional lineup of keynote speakers and strategy sessions will inspire and empower attendees to build a brighter future for our nation’s families.
During the 2018 National Summit on Education Reform, ExcelinEd and Governor Jeb Bush will host more than 1,000 legislators, state superintendents, policymakers and thought leaders working to build a brighter future for our nation’s families. The packed two-day event will feature notable keynote speakers and in-depth strategy sessions on evolving laws, new trends, successful policies and the latest innovations that are transforming education for the 21st century.
#EIE18 is the only conference of its kind to feature a broad range of quality, innovation and opportunity policies that prioritize student success.
Visit the National Summit website for details on this year's event and to register. Follow @ExcelinEd on Twitter for the latest news and updates, and use #EIE18 to join the National Summit conversation.
Keynote addresses and strategy sessions will be open to the media. Members of the press interested in covering the event must request credentials in advance. Media registration will open online in November.
