TPL Praises Waxman And Markey Climate Change Proposal

WASHINGTON, 3/31/2009: The Trust for Public Land(TPL), a national conservation organization, on Tuesday praised Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., for their proposal for climate change legislation.

Waxman chairs the House Energy & Commerce committee and Market chairs the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. Together, they released a discussion draft of Clean Energy Legislation as part of a comprehensive climate change package.

“We are particularly thankful for their deep commitment to the conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitats affected by global warming,” said Alan Front, TPL’s Senior Vice President. “Through TPL’s conservation partnerships across America, it has become clear that there is both abundant opportunity and urgent need for a focused public land agenda that responds explicitly to climate change impacts.”

“We are gratified by the proposal’s pronounced focus on public land conservation, restoration, and stewardship in order to help species adapt to a changing climate. Further, the conservation funding in the proposed bill will foster meaningful, broad-based engagement on the part of federal, state, and tribal land managers,” Front said. “TPL applauds Chairmen Waxman and Markey for their commitment to including critical land conservation funding in this proposal and we look forward to working with them to ensure that this essential funding is included in final legislation.”

The Trust for Public Land, established in 1972, specializes in conservation real estate, applying its expertise in negotiations, public finance, and law to protect land for people to enjoy as parks, greenways, community gardens, urban playgrounds, and wilderness. With funding from the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, Forest Legacy Program, Land & Water Conservation Fund, state and local open-space funds, and other public and private investments, TPL has helped to protect more than 2.5 million acres across the country. TPL depends upon the support of individuals, foundations and corporations.