A year-long effort to change the way Congress prioritizes conservation resulted in tremendous funding increases for key conservation programs in fiscal 2001, but fell short of making fundamental changes to the way conservation funding is allocated and distributed.

For the past year, the Land Trust Alliance and land trusts throughout the country were active in a large coalition that included state fish and wildlife agencies, historic preservation groups, national and local park organizations, outdoor recreation interests and others, all working to make a giant breakthrough in national conservation policy, embodied in the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA).

The original CARA proposed two major changes in how the federal government deals with conservation. First, it would have made a 15-year commitment — rather than an annual allocation — of funding for conservation. In total, CARA would have guaranteed $45 billion for conservation. Second, it would have allowed state and local governments — and land trusts — to take a lead role in this conservation work. Together, these would have put conservation on a par with the federal government’s highway and airport construction programs.

The most obvious result of the CARA campaign was legislation that many in the conservation community dubbed CARA-Lite. It more than doubled funding in fiscal year 2001 for a number of key conservation programs, including the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which provides grants to government and nonprofits for wetlands protection and restoration; the Forest Legacy Program, which provides matching funds to states for the purchase of conservation easements on forestland; and Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to states for the purchase of state and local parks. See chart #1.

CARA-Lite also provides an additional $160 million a year for each of the next five years for a wide array of conservation programs. Those programs will have to compete with each other for those extra funds, and construction at national parks and national forests and payments to county government also will compete for the money.

Although the campaign did not succeed in getting CARA passed, it made amazing progress, especially in light of the tough concept it needed to sell: that Congress would give up the power to annually approve conservation funding.

The campaign also recruited some unusual champions from the Alaska delegation. It resulted in some unprecedented cooperation across partisan lines. And it generated unbelievable support, including passage by the House of Representatives by 315-102. An even better bill was reported out of the Senate Energy Committee on a 13-7 vote, and 63 of 100 Senators signed a letter that called for the bill to be brought to the Senate floor. Other Senators sent their own letters, asking for much the same action.

That was the result of a lot of hard work. LTA thanks everyone in the land trust community who helped, including The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, who put enormous effort into the campaign.

CARA-Lite is a compromise measure, and it is a disappointment when compared to what we almost won. But, in many ways, it represents real progress. Chart #2 shows what CARA Lite will do for land conservation.

But our work is not finished. Next year, land conservation advocates will need to persuade the Appropriations Committee that money is vitally needed for open space protection. Otherwise, the Committee may well redirect it elsewhere.

Here are some issues arising from this year’s funding decisions that could affect you:

1. State fish and wildlife agencies will be splitting up $50 million in new funds over the next year. And there is $50 million in new grant funds, controlled by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and earmarked for endangered species. Right now, neither the states nor the FWS knows what they are going to do with the funds.

2. State parks departments will be getting $90 million. Spread over 50 states, it’s not much money, but their ability to get more will depend on how good a job they do in spending this.

3. The Forest Legacy Program has grown to be a substantial program, and one capable of funding big-- $10 to $30 million – projects. If your state isn’t in it, it should be.

4. Louisiana, Texas and other states with offshore oil production will split $150 million for “conservation, protection or restoration of wetlands,” and “mitigating damage to fish, wildlife or natural resources” (presumably damage caused by offshore oil drilling and associated development). Those states’ governors are required to file by July 1, 2001 a plan showing how they will use the money, and “shall solicit local input and shall provide for public participation in the development of the plan.”

5. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will receive significant new funding for National Marine Sanctuaries, Estuarine Reserves and Salmon Restoration projects. There is also a $30 million pot for “competitive grants to states and local governments for community-based coastal restoration in the Great Lakes region.”

Is there a CARA campaign next year? Yes! Conservation leaders will be discussing how we can best build on the work we have done. We aren’t giving up now!

Chart 1

Federal Conservation Funding -- LTA Priorities (figures in millions)	FY1997	FY1998	FY1999	FY2000	FY2001
Farmland Protection Program	$35	0	0	0	$10
North American Wetlands Conservation Act	$9.75	$13	$15	$15	$40
Forest Legacy Program	$2	$4	$7	$30	$60
Land and Water Conservation Fund -- Grants to States	0	0	0	$40	$90.5