Coalition for the Environmental Bond

Leading Environmentalists Support Bond Bill

January 15, 2008

(Boston) Today the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture heard testimony on the Environmental Bond Bill (H 4446) filed by Governor Deval Patrick.  According to leading environmentalists across the state, this is an urgent investment that will fund critical local and statewide programs throughout the Commonwealth.

Testifying before the Committee were members of The Coalition for the Environmental Bond (www.envirobond.org) which represents more than 165 organizations and 315,000 people across the state.  Their message: the Legislature needs to pass a comprehensive Environmental Bond Bill this session in order to protect a sustainable and productive landscape of working farms and forests, wetlands, rivers, drinking water supplies, and protected natural areas, while meeting with economic and recreational needs of Massachusetts residents and visitors.

“If a new bond is not passed quickly, state agencies will run out of funds to do badly needed conservation work,” said Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations for Mass Audubon. “For owners who want to protect their land from development, state partnership is a necessity. Without it, important land will be developed, and landowners will lose faith in the state as a partner.”

Also addressing the Committee were individuals from The Nature Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, The Trustees of Reservations, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts.

The Coalition for the Environmental Bond includes organizations from across the state including state and national environmental organizations, hunting, fishing and recreation groups, municipal entities, water quality and watershed groups, land trusts, farmers, and businesses. (See full list of Coalition for the Environmental Bond members at www.envirobond.org)

Funds from the 2002 Environmental Bond have been largely expended. New funding is essential to programs that protect our environment, health and safety. The Legislature must enact an Environmental Bond authorization in 2008, or many state environmental programs will face drastic cuts.

Projects funded through the Environmental Bond directly affect communities across the state by protecting natural areas, safeguarding water quality, restoring rivers and streams, providing for dam removal, supporting working farms, building our economy, sustaining the tourism industry, and improving our quality of life.

More information, including background information on the Environmental Bond Bill and the Coalition for the Environmental Bond can be seen at www.envirobondorg.