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Yesterday, the Biden administration announced that it is expanding the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP), a grant program that supports urban parks across the country. The ORLP was started in 2014 to create new outdoor recreation spaces in urban communities, reinvigorate existing parks, and connect people and the outdoors in underserved communities. It is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a widely popular and effective program that uses oil and gas revenue to support conservation and recreation projects.
The Trump administration made a last-minute attempt to gut the program, including prohibiting grants for projects in urban areas. However, the Biden administration quickly reinstated the program. Now, the Interior Department has announced that it is allocating $150 million to the program, as well as administrative updates including raising the maximum award to $5 million per project.
These actions fit with the Biden administration's vision for inclusive and just conservation outlined in last week's "America the Beautiful" report. In addition to prioritizing locally-led conservation efforts, the administration has also committed to ensuring that 40% of the benefits from investments in conservation flow specifically to disadvantaged communities. “Every child in America deserves to have a safe and nearby place to experience the great outdoors. The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program is a crucial tool to advancing environmental justice and ensuring equitable access to nature and its benefits. Working together with state and local governments to ensure green spaces promotes the health and welfare of urban communities," said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
Report: Conservation easements work to protect nature
A new analysis shows that conservation easements are helping to protect wildlife and habitat. The study examined 76,000 acres of easements across 17 states, and "of the 201 conservation easements we looked at, nature was better off by having all 201." Voluntary private conservation, including conservation easements, can play an important role in the Biden administration's goal to protect 30% of America's lands and waters by 2030, which was outlined in the "America the Beautiful" plan.
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We were scientists in our own right by managing the land. And I think we get overlooked, and so getting the buffalo back on the landscape, back within our culture will improve our lifestyle, will improve their lifestyle and will improve the ecosystem. So that's the big push.”
