Obama Praised for Saying Conserving Working Lands is

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sean Crowley, 202-572-3331, scrowley@edf.org
Sara Hopper, 202-572-3379, shopper@edf.org

(Washington, DC—April 16, 2010) President Obama is correct that “it’s the right thing to do for our economy” to conserve American landscapes, including the working lands— farms, ranches and private forestlands—that make up two-thirds of the continental United States, according to Environmental Defense Fund.

The president made his remarks just before he signed a Presidential Memorandum outlining his administration’s conservation goals during today’s White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors. The conference included panel discussions with local leaders from across the country. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack moderated a panel focused on “Conserving working lands for the benefit of all Americans,” and Interior Secretary Salazar moderated a panel focused on “Connecting people to our lands, water and wildlife.”

“President Obama is right to focus on the urgent need for action to conserve American landscapes, including the working lands—farms, ranches and private forestlands—that make up two-thirds of the continental United States,” said Sara Hopper, director of agricultural policy for Environmental Defense Fund and a former staff member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “”America’s working lands are essential pieces of the conservation puzzle. Without healthy, productive agricultural lands, efforts to protect wildlife, improve water quality and curb global warming are doomed to fail. “

Unfortunately, the Senate Agriculture Committee last month passed a child nutrition reauthorization bill that would pay for necessary increases in funding for school meals by cutting $2.8 billion over 10 years from USDA’s largest working lands conservation program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP is one of several voluntary conservation programs administered by USDA and funded through the Farm Bill. These programs assist producers nationwide who sign up to spend their own time and money through cost-share agreements to improve the management of their land to benefit the environment.

“Farmer demand for assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and other conservation programs routinely outstrips available funding,” concluded Hopper. “We are thrilled the President recognizes the need to assist farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who want to improve and protect their lands for future generations. We hope Senate and House leadership will reject cuts to these critical programs and ensure the funding is there over the long term to support the Administration’s bold land conservation vision.”

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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.