4 minute read
PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE
An angler casts a line from a canoe on the Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest’s Sand Pond, a property that was protected with funds from the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program.
A Catch Phrase that Still Matters
Advertisement
By Matt Leahy
All politics is local” is one most oft-repeated phrases in “ of the politiin the House of Representatives and then ultimately retained, considered, House Bill joined oppose with oth HB 621. er L We CHIP s argued take the holders to bill would cal history. Although it has become 621, legislation that would have allowed have diverted $468,000 away from the proa cliché since former Speaker of the United the County Registers of Deeds to keep up gram, thereby undermining its mission. States House of Representatives Thomas to 10 percent of the dedicated $25 fee We therefore were pleased with the Ways Phillip “Tip” O’Neill first said it back in charged which supports the mission of the and Means Committee’s decision to retain 1982, its meaning, that local concerns and Land and Community Heritage Invest- the bill. While the better outcome, of interests can drive the development of ment Program (LCHIP). Retaining a bill course, would have been for the Commitpublic policy, is still a timely reminder of means the committee will reconvene tee to simply vote to reject the bill, the how people can influence the direction of at some point later this year to review, members acknowledged the serious flaws government if they believe they have a debate and then vote on it. In effect, the with HB 621. stake in the outcome. Committee has put it on the legislative There was other positive news for
Take, for example, what happened dur- backburner. LCHIP this year. The Governor’s proposal ing this year’s New Hampshire Legislative Because of the benefits the program to increase LCHIP’s yearly funding from session. The Ways and Means Committee brings to our state, the Forest Society $3.5 million to $5 million in the Fiscal
Years 2022 and 2023 state budget continues a trend where the program has seen an increased level of recognition and appreciation for its role in strengthening the quality of life in our state.
In contrast, LCHIP supporters may remember the early days of the program when the funding levels fluctuated from budget to budget or how in certain years the Legislature diverted LCHIP’s dedicated fee into other state purposes.
So, what accounts for this apparent change in attitude to the program? It could be because the advocates have continually noted the program’s ability to leverage other sources of funds to support a specific project. Or maybe it is because conserved lands also support outdoor recreation opportunities, tourism, and the forest and agriculture economies.
Alternatively, maybe the real reason is more personal and more locally oriented. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted people’s lives, many of them instinctively gravitated to the outdoors and to places of natural beauty. It was there where they experienced a feeling of calm and a sense of normalcy. What was noteworthy about this surge in outdoor visitors is the public still preferred sharing the hiking trails to being stuck at home, even when others had swamped their favorite spot.
As land trusts, conservation commissions, and other like-minded partners push for policies that support land conservation, we should remember our best advocates are often the broad segments of the public who, as we witnessed during the pandemic, want access to nature, to parks, and to greenspaces. We still will need to have the facts, data, and other information that quantify the benefits of conservation. Moreover, we still will need to remind policy makers about how forests can mitigate global warming, nurture biodiversity, filter groundwater, and reduce storm water runoff.
However, people’s love for open natural spaces and the recognition of the effect those areas have on their physical and mental health are powerful driving arguments in favor of the continued support for conservation funding. Tip O’Neill did not have LCHIP in mind when he passed along his political wisdom. I have a feeling, though, if he had ever had a chance to walk the Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest in Lempster (or any property in New Hampshire the program has helped to protect), he too would have become a champion for it. All politics is still local.
Matt Leahy is the public policy manager for the Forest Society.
Book Your Virtual Screening Today
Released in spring 2020, The Merrimack: River at Risk tells the story of one of America’s most threatened rivers and what can be done to save it. Produced by the Forest Society and directed by Jerry Monkman of Ecophotography, the full-length documentary is now available to be screened by organizations and businesses at virtual events.
