Severe Cuts Proposed for Conservation Funding

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed budget for next year makes drastic cuts to funding for conservation and recreation. The most immediate of these is the permanent elimination of local land conservation, parks, and trails support from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. His budget would also phase-out dedicated funds for the state farmland preservation program over the next two years.

These proposed cuts to conservation programs would be the largest in the state’s history.

What does this mean to you?

The Keystone Fund has:

• Helped Natural Lands Trust preserve over 9,200 acres – an area 2.5 times larger than Valley Forge National Park
• Improved access to local parks, trails, greenways, and open spaces, including Natural Lands Trust’s nature preserves
• Enabled communities in every county of our region to realize their own open space goals
• Preserved more than 120,000 acres of green space statewide

How can you help?

Budget negotiations are heating up and there is an urgent need to show strong support for the Keystone Fund.

1.) Contact your state legislators and let them know that you support conservation funding and the Keystone Fund, in particular. (We know you’re busy, but a letter from you will have a much greater impact than an email!)

Thank you for your support!