{"id":8976,"date":"2018-09-28T15:55:20","date_gmt":"2018-09-28T20:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pnts.org\/new\/?p=8976"},"modified":"2018-11-15T12:28:52","modified_gmt":"2018-11-15T18:28:52","slug":"savelwcf-to-save-our-trails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pnts.org\/new\/savelwcf-to-save-our-trails\/","title":{"rendered":"#SaveLWCF to Save Our Trails"},"content":{"rendered":"

Urge Congress to permanently reauthorize LWCF with full, dedicated funding<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) expired on September 30th, threatening the future of our national trails, parks, and public lands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cWithout any action from Congress, a program that is widely supported, provides more access to public lands, conserves our public landscapes, and — I think this is Senator (Richard) Burr\u2019s favorite comment about LWCF — it costs the taxpayers nothing, is going to expire,\u201d said <\/span>Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, to members of the U.S. Senate on September 26<\/span><\/a>. \u201cPublic lands out of public reach benefit no one.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

LWCF, which was established in 1964 as part of a bipartisan commitment, has supported more than 42,000 state and local projects, including several that have bolstered the National Trails System in its 50 year existence<\/a>. The Partnership for the National Trails System urges Congress to <\/span>permanently reauthorize LWCF<\/b> and provide it with<\/span> fully dedicated funding <\/b>with no weakening amendments. <\/span><\/p>\n

Our partners from the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) made <\/span>this video<\/span><\/a> of how LWCF is important to the completion of the CDT, a national scenic trail that spans 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada. In Colorado, portions of the trail are still located on dirt roads and busy highways, so one of the CDTC\u2019s goals is to find a route in a higher quality, scenic, and safe location. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c(LWCF) is our only tool for our Federal agency partners to use to acquire these lands,\u201d said Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of the CDTC. \u201cIt\u2019s an important program, partly because it\u2019s not coming out of our tax dollars. It\u2019s coming out of offshore drilling installments or payments that actually is helping us put back into the public domain what has been taken out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Matt Nelson, Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association, and Kevin Thusius, Director of Land Conservation with the Ice Age Trail Alliance, share similar stories of LWCF\u2019s positive impact on the <\/span>Arizona<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Ice Age<\/span><\/a> national scenic trails. <\/span><\/p>\n

Messages in support of LWCF resonate with the National Trails System community, as well as countless other outdoor recreation groups across the country. Examples include the National Wildlife Federation\u2019s report about <\/span>LWCF\u2019s critical role in protecting America\u2019s hunting and fishing heritage<\/span><\/a>, the National Audubon Society\u2019s article in defense of this important bird <\/span>habitat-protection program<\/span><\/a>, and this <\/span>joint letter to Congress<\/span><\/a> by The Conservation Alliance and Outdoor Industry Association signed by more than 280 outdoor businesses and organizations. <\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t stand by while our nation\u2019s best program for conservation, recreation, and sportsmen access is left behind.<\/span> Tell your Representatives and Senators<\/a> to support full, dedicated funding and #SaveLWCF!<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Urge Congress to permanently reauthorize LWCF with full, dedicated funding The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) expired on September 30th, threatening the future of our national trails, parks, and public lands. \u201cWithout any action from Congress, a program that is widely supported, provides more… <\/p>\n

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