Ask Congress to Fund the Forest Legacy Program

Eastern communities working to protect surrounding forests from development look increasingly to the federal Forest Legacy program that provides critical funding for just that purpose.

This month, the Congress will determine draft funding levels for Forest Legacy and other land conservation programs in the Fiscal Year 2004 federal budget. Please take a few minutes to urge your Senators and Member of Congress to support funding of Forest Legacy.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Full Funding for Forest Legacy

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I write to ask you to support funding of the Forest Legacy program at the level of $150 million for Fiscal Year 2004. I understand that funding levels will be set as early as mid-June.

Please contact the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee chairman to let him know how important this program is to our state and to the eastern U.S.

The Forest Legacy program enjoys broad bipartisan support. It provides matching grants to states to purchase land and conservation easements from willing sellers. It benefits the public by protecting such important public values as scenery, recreational access, water resources, and wildlife habitat. It helps private property owners by lowering their tax burdens and allowing them to continue traditional uses of their land.

In the east, where 85 percent of forestlands are privately held and where owners face growing pressure to sell their forests for development, Forest Legacy is an increasingly valuable tool in helping communities protect their natural heritage for future generations.

As more states participate in the program, funding has become extremely competitive. Demand this year nationwide exceeds current funding by nearly $250 million. Again, I urge you to do everything possible to increase support for Forest Legacy to $150 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2004.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 04, 2003

Background Information

BACKGROUND: Sprawl is by no means an eastern phenomenon, but its impacts there are amplified. Western forests are mainly public lands and are somewhat insulated from the reach of sprawl that challenges wild places, wildlife, clean air and water, recreational opportunities. But in the eastern U.S., 85 percent of forestland is privately owned.

As our population increases and urban sprawl devours our landscape, private forestland owners are increasingly under pressure to sell their property for development. One of the most important tools we have for protecting eastern forests from the encroachment of sprawl is the Forest Legacy program.

Through the Forest Legacy, the federal government provides states and communities money through matching grants to protect environmentally important forests from development, either through outright purchase or purchase of development rights.

POPULAR, AND NOT NEARLY ENOUGH
The program is tremendously popular. Since its inception in 1990, it has protected hundreds of thousands of acres from fragmentation and development. Although funding for Forest Legacy has steadily increased in recent years, it currently meets only a small fraction of the demand; requests this year exceeded available funds by $250 million.

The Bush Administration is proposing to fund Forest Legacy at $90.8 million in 2004, which would be a record high level for the program. Clearly, this reflects the increasing popularity of the program and is a very welcome step. But the need demands even more funding. And because of the intense competition for federal dollars, Congress needs to hear again and again from us that we want it to give forest conservation a high priority and to fund the Forest Legacy program at $150 million in the Fiscal Year 2004 federal budget.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO: Urge $150 Million for Forest Legacy
Congress will propose funding levels for the Forest Legacy program as early as mid-June. Please ask your Senators and Members of Congress to contact their leadership on the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees to secure funding for the Forest Legacy program at the level of $150 million for FY 2004.