The government is tightening its belt and some federal programs are feeling the squeeze. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is facing drastic cuts in funding with the recent passing of a federal bill that provides only $61 million of $900 million available -- an 80 percent reduction from fiscal year 2011 levels and the lowest funding level of the program's 45 year history.

"We feel that a $61 million appropriation is unreasonably low compared to the cuts that are taking place to other programs," said Mark Zakutansky, mid-atlantic policy manager for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). "There are going to be real significant impacts to both our conservation and recreation lands in the future."

The Appalachian Mountain Club is an outdoor recreation and conservation organization that represents 100,000 members across the mid-Atlantic and New England with 10,000 members and supporters in Pennsylvania. The AMC is a member of the LWCF and advocates on its behalf for funding.

In Pennsylvania, LWCF has provided approximately $315 million in funding to help protect public lands such as the Gettysburg National Military Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Allegheny National Forest, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the John Heinz Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge.

Zakutansky said several land acquisition projects proposed for this year that are "shovel ready" will be directly and immediately impacted by cuts in LWCF funding: Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Southeastern Monroe County, Eagle Rock in Adams County, Little Bushkill Headwaters in Bushkill, and the Highlands Conservation Area, which spans Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

"This lack of funding presents a serious concern to the conservation community because it's really going to sever the relationships that we've developed with conservation-oriented landowners who are interested in protecting their property," said Zakutansky.

The LWCF uses no taxpayer dollars, drawing on money set aside from offshore oil and gas lease revenues. Congress can designate up to $900 million of these funds each year for land conservation projects throughout the country for the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

Zakutansky said while the situation may seem dire it is not hopeless. He urged Pennsylvanians to contact their legislators and speak up in support of the parks and natural areas they care about.

For more information, visit www.lwcfcoalition.org and www.outdoors.org.