PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
A HISTORIC COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING OUR LANDS
January 12, 1999
Today, at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., President Clinton and Vice
President Gore announce a $1 billion Lands Legacy Initiative -- the largest
one-year investment ever in the protection of America's land resources. This FY
2000 budget proposal -- a 125 percent increase over FY 1999 -- expands federal
efforts to save America's natural treasures, and provides significant new
resources to states and communities to protect local green spaces. To sustain
these efforts in the new century, the President commits to work with Congress to
create a permanent funding stream beginning in FY 2001. In addition, the
President calls on Congress to extend permanent wilderness protection to more
than 5 million acres within 17 national parks and monuments. This landmark
initiative charts a new conservation vision for the 21st century, preserving
irreplaceable pieces of our natural legacy within easy reach of every
citizen.
Saving America's Natural Treasures. At the start of this century, President Theodore Roosevelt called on Americans to save the best of our natural endowment for all time. His legacy is seen across the country, in our parks, our forests, and our wildlife refuges. President Clinton has continued to fulfill this vision by protecting Yellowstone Park from mining, creating a 1.7 million-acre national monument in Utah's spectacular red-rock country, and forging a historic agreement to save ancient California redwoods. The Lands Legacy Initiative expands these efforts with $442 million for federal land acquisitions. Priorities include:
Protecting our Parks. In addition, the President is calling on Congress to grant permanent wilderness protection to over 5 million acres within the backcountry of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Great Smoky Mountains, Cumberland Gap and 12 other national parks and monuments, giving these lands the highest level of federal protection available.
A Conservation Vision for the 21st Century. A new century poses new conservation challenges. Beyond saving America's "crown jewels," we must work as well to preserve natural wonders in our very backyards that grow scarcer every day. Protecting local green spaces helps improve air and water quality, sustain wildlife, provide families with places to play and relax, and make our communities more livable. Lands Legacy, to be coordinated with the Livability Agenda announced yesterday by Vice President Gore, provides $588 million to state and local governments, private land trusts, and other nonprofit groups for:
Protecting our Oceans and Coasts. Lands Legacy includes funds for federal andstate efforts to protect ocean and coastal resources: $29 million to expand and protectnational marine sanctuaries; $90 million to states to protect and restore coastlands; $19 million to states for estuary protections; and $45 million to restore coral reefs, fisheries and marine habitats.
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