FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2006
Several AMC priority projects earmarked for Forest Legacy funding, but other projects remain unfunded
CONCORD, N.H.—Despite historic low funding levels for land conservation programs in the proposed 2007 federal budget released Monday by President Bush, several Northern Forest projects and one Highlands Region project made the list for significant federal investment, based on a review by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).
"Outside of spending for programs such as Medicaid and Social Security and national defense, we’re seeing pretty significant cuts across the board in this year’s proposed federal budget," said Susan Arnold, Director of Conservation for the AMC. "We know there’s strong bi-partisan support for parks and open space—but competition for funding in this climate is fierce."
Two federal programs most critical to protecting open space and forestland in the Northeast are the Forest Legacy Program, which protects forestland from being developed, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which provides matching grants to states and towns for open space and outdoor recreation projects, as well as funds for purchases of federal land in places like the White Mountain National Forest, Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge and Acadia National Park. A third source, the Highlands Conservation Act, was signed into law in 2004 and authorizes new funding for conservation projects in the Highlands region of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Proposed funding for the Forest Legacy Program is $61.5 million, of which $55.7 million can be used to purchase land and/or conservation easements nationwide. Proposed funding for LWCF is approximately $83 million, of which only $45 million can be used to purchase new federal lands nationwide. For the second year in a row, the President’s budget zeroed out LWCF’s matching grant program for towns and states. This compares to total LWCF and Forest Legacy funding of approximately $600 million available only five years ago, and $199 million in FY2006.
The Highlands Conservation Act received $2 million out of $10 million originally authorized, after being unfunded in last year’s budget. No specific projects were earmarked in the budget.
"While we are pleased to see the President’s budget acknowledge the importance of land protection in the Highlands region, we are disappointed the funding is taking from, rather than adding to, an already diminished pot of funding for land conservation projects overall," said Arnold.
Several Northern Forest land conservation projects fared well in the President’s budget.
The Grafton Notch Forest project in western Maine was named the highest priority Forest Legacy project nationwide, with $2 million in proposed funding. The project links a much larger mosaic of existing conservation lands to protect outstanding wildlife habitat, drinking water supplies and outdoor recreational resources.
"With forest ownership patterns in upheaval and development seemingly going on all around us, it is extremely important to secure large blocks of undeveloped land while we can. This project truly represents the way to pass a legacy on to future generations," said Newry, Maine Selectman Steve Wight.
Also making the list were two other projects in the Northern Forest region and one priority project in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands. Maine’s Lower Penobscot Forest project ($2.2 million) will protect more than 42,000 acres valued for hunting, ice fishing, canoeing, ice skating and hiking, and New Hampshire’s Willard Pond/Robb Reservoir project ($3 million), which contains remarkable wetland and upland habitats that support more than 100 species of birds. Pennsylvania’s Birdsboro Waters project ($300,000) will protect a critical parcel in the Hopewell-Big Woods Core Conservation Area.
Several priority projects with strong local support did not receive funding in the President’s budget, including New Hampshire’s Phillips Brook project; Vermont’s Orange County Headwaters project; Connecticut’s Skiff Mountain project; New Jersey’s Mountain Gate and Sparta Mountain South projects; additions to the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut; and Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in New Hampshire.
"The AMC will be working with its partners in the Northern Forest Alliance and Highlands Coalition to make sure these outstanding conservation projects named in the President’s budget get funded as the 2007 federal budget moves through Congress," said Arnold. "We all need to work together to increase overall funding levels for the Forest Legacy Program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Highlands Conservation Act to benefit land conservation in the Northeast for generations to come."
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the United States. With 90,000 members in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers and trails of the Appalachian region.
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