Congress gives a bipartisan boost to LWCF funding

In a spending bill for the current fiscal year approved on December 17, Congress raised appropriations for the Land and Water Conservation Fund to $322.9 million, an increase of 7 percent from last year. Created in 1965, the LWCF is the nation's principal land conservation program. It is funded by royalties from offshore oil and gas leases.

 

LWCF has been instrumental in preserving some of the country's best-loved parks, wilderness areas, and seashores. Less well known but just as important is the fund's role, through its State side matching program, in spurring matching state and local funding for acquiring and developing park and recreation land.

 

"At a time of difficult budget choices, this decision shows the bipartisan and widespread support for this important program, which is not paid for with taxpayer dollars," said Will Rogers, president of The Trust for Public Land. "This program protects lands and supports local economies across the nation."

 

A broad coalition of conservation, recreation, business, and sporting groups welcomed the increase, but LWCF appropriations are still far below the $900 million (in 1965 dollars) originally promised by Congress. President Obama had proposed full funding in his original budget.

 

The FY 12 omnibus appropriations bill also keeps level funding for a host of other conservation programs and allocates $2 million -- twice last year's level -- to the new Community Forest Program, which The Trust for Public Land worked to create in the 2008 Farm Bill.