WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than two dozen environmental and land conservation organizations have signed a letter to Members of Congress indicating their support for the “Suburban and Community Forestry and Open Space Program Act,” authored by Senator Susan Collins. This legislation would protect our working forests, farmland, and open spaces from the threat of suburban sprawl. This bill establishes a $50 million grant program within the U.S. Forest Service to support local land conservation projects that preserve working forests.
“Suburban sprawl is threatening our nation’s forests, farms, and meadows. In the State of Maine alone, suburban sprawl has already consumed tens of thousands of acres of valuable forest and farm land,” Senator Collins said. “The bill I have introduced will help prevent sprawl, help sustain the viability of natural resource-based industries, and provide additional support for local conservation initiatives and I am pleased that it has received overwhelming support from a broad coalition of environmental and land conservation organizations.”
“Passage of this legislation would benefit efforts to conserve private forests that are important to local communities as a source of clean water, recreation, wildlife habitat, and forest products. We urge you to cosponsor and support passage of this important legislation,” said the groups in a joint statement to Members of Congress. Groups that signed the letter include; Alabama Environmental Council, American Forests, Appalachian Mountain Club, Association of NJ Environmental Commissions, Audubon New York, Eastern Forest Partnership, Environmental Defense, Heritage Conservancy (PA), Highlands Coalition (PA, NJ, NY,CT), Hudson Highlands Land Trust (NY), National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Initiative (MS), NJ Conservation Foundation, Northern Forest Alliance (NY,VT,NH,ME), NY-NJ Trail Conference, Open Space Institute, Palisades Interstate Park Commission (NY,NJ), Regional Plan Association (NJ,NY,CT), Southern Forests Network, The Trust for Public Land, The Wilderness Society, Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation, Westchester Land Trust (NY), Vermont Land Trust, Wild South, Wildlands Conservancy (PA).
The $50 million that would be authorized by Senator Collins’ bill would help prevent forest fragmentation and preserve working forests, helping to maintain the supply of timber that fuels Maine’s most significant industry. These resources would also serve as a valuable tool for communities that are struggling to manage growth and prevent sprawl.
Local government and nonprofit organizations could compete for funds to purchase land or access to land to protect working landscapes threatened by development. Projects funded under this initiative must be targeted at lands located in parts of the country that are threatened by sprawl. In addition, this legislation requires that federal grant funds be matched dollar-for-dollar by state, local, or private resources.