The Trust for Public Land Endorses Obama Conservation Budget

The Trust for Public Land today issued the following statement after the release of President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal year 2015, which includes $900 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

"The Trust for Public Land is thrilled that President Obama has proposed full funding of $900 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund in its 50th anniversary year," said Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land. "The LWCF program is the most effective way our country has to preserve lands and places which are important to Americans and their families, without using any taxpayer dollars. This budget recognizes that fact."

"We hope Congress approves this budget proposal, which supports the $646 billion annual outdoor recreation economy," Rogers said. "In addition, the LWCF program needs to be reauthorized and Congress should act on that, too, to ensure that LWCF can support our conservation and recreation needs well into the future."

Rogers also praised the president's budget for including $1 billion for a Climate Resilience Fund. "This fund can help cities meet the challenges of climate change, including creating green infrastructure in cities through new riverfront parks, green alleys, and wetlands to soak up storm surges," Rogers said. "We are working with a number of cities around the nation on this issue and it is great to see the federal government focused on this and providing real resources."

Founded in 1972, The Trust for Public Land is the leading nonprofit working to conserve land for people. Operating from more than 30 offices nationwide, The Trust for Public Land has protected more than three million acres from the inner city to the wilderness and helped generate more than $34 billion in public funds for conservation. Nearly ten million people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.