Many of the most magnificent redwood parks and reserves you and generations of Americans have enjoyed, including Redwood National Park pictured above, have been partially funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Photo by David Baselt, redwoodhikes.com
Your voice today can help reauthorize federal funding to help protect America’s iconic landscapes, including some of the most magnificent redwood forests you’ve helped safeguard through Save the Redwoods League.
President Barack Obama’s budget request included a proposal to establish dedicated mandatory funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), with full funding at $900 million a year beginning in 2015. But the LWCF expired on September 30, threatening conservation and recreation projects that are critical to American communities and our nation’s outdoor recreation economy.
For 50 years, the LWCF has provided critical funding for land and water conservation projects, outdoor recreation access and the continued preservation of our nation’s historic, cultural and iconic landmarks, helping to protect millions of acres of land in every state and almost every county. If you have ever enjoyed a vacation in a national park, a hike on a local trail or a ballgame on the field down the street, there is a great chance you have benefited from this program.
Many of the most magnificent redwood parks and reserves you and generations of Americans have enjoyed have been partially funded by the LWCF, including Redwood National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Headwaters Forest Reserve, Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia National Park.
Redwood National Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (home of Muir Woods) are among the magical places that were recommended for LWCF funding in the President’s fiscal year 2015 budget.
The LWCF is not funded by taxpayer dollars. The US Congress made a commitment to the American public that a small portion of revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling would go to outdoor recreation and conservation as an offset for the depletion of resources that belong to us all.
Tags: 2015, budget, funding, Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWCF
