On March 12, the President signed into law a sweeping package of public lands bills that includes a measure to permanently reauthorize the program for the first time in its 54-year-history.

The new law puts an end to the cycle of expiration and renewal LWCF has suffered in recent years.

The National Wildlife Federation provided this list of other provisions in the bill--

-- WILD Act to conserve endangered species, combat invasive species (including Asian carp) and fight poaching;

-- Reauthorizes Neotropical Migratory Bird Act;

-- Allows the transport bows through national parks;

-- Adopts the policy that federal public lands will be open hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless deemed otherwise closed for specific reasons;

-- Requires studying and identifying federal lands that could be opened to hunting, fishing and recreation activities;

-- Facilitates the construction and expansion of public target ranges, including ranges on Federal land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management; and

-- Designates new wilderness, wild and scenic river, steelhead management area, and desert conservation areas.

Click Here for more information on the package from the National Wildlife Federation.

For more on the impact of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in Pennsylvania, visit the PA Environmental Council website.

Visit The Nature Conservancy-PA webpage to learn more about programs, initiatives and events in Pennsylvania.

NewsClips:

Trump Signs Public Lands, Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Reauthorization Bill

York, Lancaster Counties Earn National Heritage Area Designation To Draw Tourists, Spur Economy

[Posted: March 13, 2019]

3/18/2019