Land Trust Alliance applauds passage of Inflation Reduction Act
WASHINGTON (August 12, 2022) – The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, applauds passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The following statement can be attributed to Andrew Bowman, president and CEO of the Land Trust Alliance:
The Land Trust Alliance is grateful to Congress for getting the IRA across the finish line and ensuring it includes $20 billion for Farm Bill conservation programs. The increase in funding of Farm Bill conservation programs is a clear acknowledgment of the critical role that private landowners will continue to play in addressing climate change and its impacts. This is an unprecedented investment in voluntary private land conservation and the work of land trusts across the country to protect our irreplaceable farmlands, forests, ranches and wetlands.
About the Inflation Reduction Act
The Inflation Reduction Act is landmark climate legislation that has the potential to reduce U.S. emissions by 40% by 2030, helping to reduce carbon in our atmosphere and buffering human and natural communities from the worst effects of climate change.
The IRA will fund critical Farm Bill conservation programs: Land trusts and the landowners they work with will have access to an additional $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to be allocated across four years, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program will be increased by $4.95 billion during that period. The Conservation Stewardship Program ($3.25 billion) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program ($8.45 billion) will also receive huge investments, and there is $1 billion in technical assistance for landowners who use these programs to reduce climate-related emissions.
Investments in other federal programs that will support land trust work include:
$700 million for the Forest Legacy Program.
$1.5 billion for the Urban and Community Forestry program to plant trees in underserved areas.
$2.6 billion to NOAA for coastal zone management grants for the conservation, restoration and protection of coastal and marine habitats.
$450 million in competitive grants for underserved or small private forest landowners to carry out climate mitigation practices and participate in emerging private markets.
$3 billion to EPA for environmental and climate justice block grants to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution and/or mitigate climate risks in disadvantaged communities.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents approximately 950 member land trusts supported by more than 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at www.landtrustalliance.org.