On November 17, WeConservePA, which represents 70 land trust and conservation organizations and more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians, sent a letter to House and Senate members and Gov. Wolf urging them to oppose efforts to retreat on the state's commitments to fund community-driven recreation and conservation projects.

Specifically, WeConservePA is concerned about taking the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and the Environmental Stewardship "Growing Greener" Fund to balance the state budget.

"You also cannot divert pending Keystone or ESF revenues without doing substantial economic damage to Pennsylvania. The ongoing flow of conservation investments by these funds supports small businesses and employment across the Commonwealth, as well as leverages, creates, and maintains green infrastructure that provides financial and environmental returns to Pennsylvania.

"The Keystone and Environmental Stewardship Funds support myriad small businesses and jobs with them. Projects involve surveyors, appraisers, legal services, engineers, planners, drafters, environmental remediators, hydrologists, geologists, agricultural consultants, nurseries, architects, landscape architects, landscapers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, painters, roofing contractors, fencing installers, paving contractors, material delivery, sign makers, archaeologists, and arborists. Supplies and equipment are needed from nurseries, lumber yards, quarries, building material suppliers, hardware stores, equipment manufacturers (playground, recreation, pool,..), and equipment rental businesses.

"During and after projects are completed, you also have long-term employment for private concessionaires, outdoor retailers, adventure services, campgrounds and cabin rentals and other tourism and hospitality related enterprises."

The text of the letter follows--

Dear Pennsylvania Senators, Representatives, and Governor Wolf:

I write on behalf of the 70 member organizations of WeConservePA (formerly the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association)and the more than one hundred thousand Pennsylvanians they count as members and supporters.

WeConservePA has reviewed state commitments against balances in state accounts for the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and Environmental Stewardship Fund associated with DCNR.

Going through an itemization of projects, we found that nearly every dollar in state accounts is obligated—sums ranging from $1,000 to $1 million. You cannot tap these state accounts without de-committing money from real projects—reneging on any number of the 1,037 grant-funded projects underway in Pennsylvania’s communities or stripping money from 281 State Park or Forest projects in process.

You also cannot divert pending Keystone or ESF revenues without doing substantial economic damage to Pennsylvania. The ongoing flow of conservation investments by these funds supports small businesses and employment across the Commonwealth, as well as leverages, creates,and maintains green infrastructure that provides financial and environmental returns to Pennsylvania.

The Keystone and Environmental Stewardship Funds support myriad small businesses and jobs with them. Projects involve surveyors, appraisers, legal services, engineers, planners, drafters, environmental remediators, hydrologists, geologists, agricultural consultants, nurseries, architects, landscape architects, landscapers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, painters, roofing contractors, fencing installers, paving contractors, material delivery, sign makers, archaeologists, and arborists. Supplies and equipment are needed from nurseries, lumber yards, quarries, building material suppliers, hardware stores, equipment manufacturers (playground, recreation, pool,..), and equipment rental businesses.

During and after projects are completed, you also have long-term employment for private concessionaires, outdoor retailers, adventure services, campgrounds and cabin rentals and other tourism and hospitality related enterprises.

There is also the employment of foresters, maintenance workers, recreation professionals, environmental educators, and resource, facility, and security managers. The variety and numbers of jobs are enormous.

At a time when state government needs to support jobs and provide economic stimulus, it is more important than ever to keep Keystone and ESF investments flowing and give businesses assurance that the continuing pipeline of projects will not be disturbed as the businesses are making personnel and business investment decisions.

Going beyond those job-related impacts, completed projects continue giving to communities year-after-year, decade-after-decade.

For example, the Keystone Fund delivers $7 in flood control and prevention, water treatment, and other natural services for every dollar invested.

The Keystone Fund and Environmental Stewardship Fund play crucial parts in making Pennsylvania a great place to live, work, and play.

With pandemic-driven fundamental shifts underway in the world economy and businesses and skilled workers looking more than ever at quality of life in making location decisions, the General Assembly should be considering how it might increase investments through these time-tested funds, not whether the funds can be squeezed.

The Keystone and Environmental Stewardship Funds are proven, highly acclaimed vehicles for keeping Pennsylvania communities strong. Good for the environment and good for the economy, there are few state programs that can provide such lasting public benefits.

WeConservePA is a signatory to the Growing Greener Coalition’s broader review of Keystone Fund and Environmental Stewardship Fund benefits delivered to you yesterday. Rather than retread that ground, we urge you to review that communication as well.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Andrew M. Loza

Executive Director

Click Here for a copy of the letter.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the WeConservePA website, Click Here to sign up for regular updates from WeConservePA, Like them on Facebook, and Follow them on Twitter.  Click Here to support their work.

Save the Date: WeConservePA Conference March 24-26 in Gettysburg.

More than 100,000 Pennsylvanians contribute to local land trusts.

Related Articles This Week:

-- $201,977,000 Diverted From Environment, Energy Funds To Balance Fy 2020-21 State Budget

-- Hundreds Of Thousands Oppose Cuts In Local Recreation, Conservation Project Funding

-- Growing Greener Coalition: 93% Of Pennsylvanians Say We Have A Moral Obligation To Care For Our Environment - Don’t Cut Dedicated Funding

-- Growing Greener Coalition Urges General Assembly, Governor To Reject Any Budget Proposal That Undermines Dedicated Funding For Community-Driven Conservation Projects

-- 13 Hunting, Angler Groups Urge Senate, House Members, Gov. Wolf To Maintain Local Conservation Project Funding Critical To Stewardship Of Wildlife Resources, Public Lands

-- Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: 3 Reasons PA Officials Should Not Drain Conservation Funds To Balance The Budget - Act Now

-- PA Federation Of Sportsmen & Conservationists: Protect Dedicated State Funds Critical To Improve Habitat, Protect Wildlife In PA

-- CBF: Raiding Dedicated Conservation Funds To Plug The State's Budget Gap Would Further Damage PA's Environment

-- PA Environmental Council: Protect Investment In Outdoor Recreation And Public Lands

-- Op-Ed: Protect Our Investment In Outdoor Recreation - PA Environmental Council

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Opposes Any Effort To Cut Dedicated Funds To Support State Park, Forest, Recreation Projects

-- Op-Ed: Protecting Critical Funding For Outdoor Recreation - PA Parks & Forests Foundation

Related Articles - Budget:

-- New Poll Shows 90% Of PA Voters Want Senate, House Members To Address Environmental, Conservation Priorities, Provide More Funding For Critical Programs

-- PA Farm Bureau, 45 Other Hunting, Angler, Business, Environmental, Watershed Groups Urge Senate, House To Pass On-Farm Conservation Funding Bill This Year

-- PA Conservation Districts Ask Lawmakers To Keep Same Funding For Their Vital Services As They Finalize FY 2020-21 State Budget

-- State Parks Continue To Break Visitor Records In September: 4.7 Million Visitors, Up 31 percent Over Last Year

-- State, Regional, Local Outdoor Recreation ‘Through The Roof’ Across Pennsylvania

-- Op-Ed: Now Is The Time To Invest In Parks, Not Cut Them

-- Analysis: 2020 Is A Make Or Break Year For Environmental Funding

-- House Speaker Cutler: Republicans Will First Raid Dedicated Funds To Balance Budget In November

-- House Republicans Pass Bill To Freeze Funding For County Conservation Districts, Local Parks, Farm Conservation, Watershed Restoration Projects; Will Hurt Local Economies

-- House Republicans Moving Bill To Reallocate Keystone Fund, Damage Vitality Of PA’s Outdoor Economy

-- Analysis: Why Republican Freeze On Funding For Local Parks, Trails, Farm Conservation, Mine Reclamation, Recycling Is Bad For The Economy, Communities, The Environment

-- Senate Environmental Committee Puts Spotlight On Funding Needed To Implement PA Clean Water Plan At Chesapeake Bay Briefing

[Posted: November 17, 2020]

11/23/2020