Conservation Funding

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

As our nation’s most important tool for conservation, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is a bipartisan federal funding program that protects America’s most special places. For more than six decades, LWCF has helped conserve iconic landscapes and trails across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, from Sterling Forest in the New York Highlands to White Cap Mountain in Maine to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, while also supporting numerous state and local parks across the nation.

Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF)

The Legacy Restoration Fund is a critical federal funding program for caring for our nation’s public lands and waters. The Legacy Restoration Fund provides dedicated funding to address deferred maintenance and restore infrastructure across national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands. By supporting projects that repair trails and facilities, improve water quality, and protect natural resources, LRF helps ensure these treasured places remain healthy, accessible, and protected for generations to come.

30 X 30 Conservation Agenda

This bold national goal aims to conserve 30 percent of lands and waters in the United States by 2030 to ensure we can preserve the natural systems that our economy depends upon and provide space for wildlife and communities to thrive.

Highlands Conservation Act

The Highlands Conservation Act authorizes Congress to spend up to $10 million a year in federal matching funds for land preservation and protection in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands states (PA, NJ, NY, CT), as well to spend $1 million a year for U.S. Forest Service research and technical assistance programs.

Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP)

This program provides federal funding for conservation and restoration projects throughout the four-state Delaware River Watershed. The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act provides funding for the DRBRP program which supports water quality improvement, habitat restoration, flood mitigation, public access and recreation, strategic planning to enhance resilience, as well as planning monitoring and research. Congress has appropriated up to $10 million each year to support the competitive matching grant and technical assistance program.

Land for Maine’s Future

The Land for Maine’s Future program is the state’s primary funding vehicle for conserving land for its natural and recreational value. The program was established in 1987 when Maine citizens voted to fund $35 million to purchase lands of statewide importance. In 1997, new priorities were set forth by a commission of Maine citizens. Since 1987, LMF has helped conserve nearly 700,000 acres of farms, forests, waterfronts, and close to home recreation destinations. Learn more about Land for Maine’s Future.

The New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP)

LCHIP is an independent state authority providing matching grants to New Hampshire communities and nonprofits to conserve and preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural, and historic resources and ensure their lasting contribution to the state’s economy, environment, and quality of life. LCHIP grants are funded by a $25 fee assessed when deeds, mortgages, and plans are recorded at the state’s ten registries of deeds. Since 2001, LCHIP has invested $50 million through 646 grants totaling more than $68 million in nearly 350 communities. As of July 2025, the program’s investments have helped conserve more than 247,000 acres of land and rehabilitate 192 historic structures. To learn more about how LCHIP is helping preserve and protect New Hampshire’s heritage, visit LCHIP.org.

Massachusetts Nature for All

AMC is a lead advocate and steering committee member of the Nature for Massachusetts Coalition, which placed Question 6, the Protect Water and Nature Initiative, on the November 2026 statewide ballot. If approved by voters, Question 6 would dedicate the state's existing sales tax revenue from sporting goods to a new Nature for All Fund, generating up to $100 million a year to conserve land and water and create and improve parks, trails, and green spaces. The initiative is built on a simple premise: everyone in Massachusetts deserves clean drinking water and access to nature.

New York Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)

New York’s Environmental Protection Fund is the state’s primary source of funding for land conservation, open space protection, parks, and environmental stewardship. Established in 1993, the EPF supports the acquisition and conservation of forests, wetlands, farms, watersheds, and other priority lands while also providing funding for parks, trails, and community-based conservation projects. The program plays a critical role in protecting clean drinking water, enhancing climate resilience, safeguarding wildlife habitat, and expanding access to outdoor recreation for communities across New York.

New Jersey Green Acres Program

For more than six decades, the Green Acres Program has been New Jersey’s leading source of funding for open space preservation and outdoor recreation. The program provides grants and financing to state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to acquire and protect parks, forests, wetlands, farms, and other ecologically important lands. Green Acres has helped conserve hundreds of thousands of acres throughout the state, protecting critical natural resources, improving public access to nature, and ensuring that communities have access to high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities.