Congress asked to create Chesapeake Treasured Landscapes Fund
March 12, 2010 - December 1, 2010
The Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail have asked Congress to provide $10 million in the FY 2011 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill to create the Chesapeake Treasured Landscapes Fund.
Support for a Chesapeake Treasured Landscape program has been strong. Representatives of 24 of the region’s most influential state, and non-profit conservation agencies and groups have endorsed a program to conserve our most treasured lands and stimulate citizen involvement in land protection and public access for the health of the region. They joined in a letter to Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking her to swiftly begin implementing and funding such a program.
The Friends request to Congress described the proposed fund as a public-private partnership that can leverage and target funding for land conservation priorities that reflect cultural, ecological and historic value. It has the potential to enhance public access and stimulate heritage and eco-tourism.
Various existing programs provide authorization for such a program, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water Trails Network.
The Friends encouraged supporters to write their Congressional representatives and ask them to support this appropriation request.
You can help. Write a letter of support to your members of Congress. Click Here.
