• What We Do
  • Conservation Initiatives
  • Federal Programs
  • TPL Services
    • Conservation Finance
    • Conservation Transactions
    • Conservation Vision
    • Park Design & Development
  • Climate Conservation Program
  • Working With TPL

 

Technical Assistance Services

The Trust for Public Land's Conservation Finance Program provides professional, technical assistance services to state and local government executives, legislatures, and public agencies that need to research and evaluate conservation finance options.

TPL's services cover a broad spectrum of government needs, including:

• Financing the acquisition of a single tract of land
• Large-scale, multiyear funding for comprehensive park and conservation programs
• Strategies for several jurisdictions to cooperate in resource protection

since 1996 TPL has helped state and local governments generate almost $25 billion to protect special places nationwide for parks, trails, open space, historic landmarks, forests, watersheds, wilderness, farms, and ranches.

TPL's pragmatic approach focuses on researching and developing legislative and ballot measures that reflect public priorities, often evaluated through public opinion surveys. Costs are covered by government consulting contracts, local philanthropy, and national grants. TPL often finds partners such as local business councils or national conservation organizations that can pool resources. Technical assistance services include:

• Feasibility research to assess open space, park, and conservation priorities; explore fiscal capacity and finance options; evaluate legal issues and election history; and define best practices.
• Public opinion surveys to determine the potential level of public support for financing of parks and open space. Specifically, TPL offers assistance in identifying issues, selecting pollsters, designing questionnaires and samples, and analyzing and presenting results.
• Program recommendations covering the choice of funding mechanism, the amount and duration of financing, expenditure priorities, and public accountability.
• Ballot measure design to meet legal requirements, reflect popular priorities, and attract public and political support.
• Legislative support, from bill drafting to expert testimony to designing legislative strategies.

For more information, please call (617) 367-6200.

Updated 4/2008