Stop Deep Cuts to Precious Conservation Funds

Stop Deep Cuts to Precious Conservation Funds

The Issue

Two-thirds of the continental United States are working lands—farms, ranches and private forestlands—that provide clean water, healthy, productive soils, wildlife habitat, and other important benefits for the entire nation. 

The USDA’s conservation programs share the cost of improving and protecting these lands with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. These public/private partnerships are a critical piece of our nation’s conservation strategy.

But while demand for these programs is always far greater than available funding, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is now proposing even deeper budget cuts.

We can’t afford to cut critical support for farmers and forest landowners who are working to conserve millions of acres of precious land. 

There are solutions to the nation's budget woes other than cutting programs that invest in a cleaner future for our air, water and land. Write Secretary Vilsack and urge him to take conservation funds off the chopping block.

avatar of the starter
Environmental Defense FundPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
Media inquiries
This petition had 12,561 supporters

The Issue

Two-thirds of the continental United States are working lands—farms, ranches and private forestlands—that provide clean water, healthy, productive soils, wildlife habitat, and other important benefits for the entire nation. 

The USDA’s conservation programs share the cost of improving and protecting these lands with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. These public/private partnerships are a critical piece of our nation’s conservation strategy.

But while demand for these programs is always far greater than available funding, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is now proposing even deeper budget cuts.

We can’t afford to cut critical support for farmers and forest landowners who are working to conserve millions of acres of precious land. 

There are solutions to the nation's budget woes other than cutting programs that invest in a cleaner future for our air, water and land. Write Secretary Vilsack and urge him to take conservation funds off the chopping block.

avatar of the starter
Environmental Defense FundPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on August 23, 2010