Press Release: Greater Boston Advocates and Conservation Organizations Back “YES on 6” Ballot Campaign to Protect Water and Nature

For Immediate Release

October 13, 2026

Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@acfstrategies.com

Greater Boston Advocates and Conservation Organizations Back “YES on 6” Ballot Campaign to Protect Water and Nature

Local Conservation Groups, Land Trusts, & Community Organizations Endorse Ballot Question 6 to Create Dedicated Nature for All Fund for Water and Land Conservation in Massachusetts — Without Raising Taxes

BOSTON — More than a dozen local conservation groups, land trusts, and community organizations across Greater Boston are endorsing the “YES on 6” ballot campaign, which aims to create a dedicated source of funding for land and water conservation in Massachusetts. Question 6, the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative on the November statewide ballot, would create a new Nature for All Fund and dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes.

“Question 6 is as much for those of us who live in cities as it is for those who live in suburban or rural Massachusetts. We all need clean water and access to nature close to home,” said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. “As our largest blue and green public open space in the region, Boston Harbor is just a drop in the bucket given the need for more parks and public open spaces to ensure our health and wellbeing.”

“As we develop more, and build even more housing, which is much-needed and coming, it’s even more important that natural spaces are preserved forever, not only for their ecological value, but for our residents to have a place to access nature,” said Emily Norton, Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association. “Question 6 is a vital way to protect our forests, wetlands, biodiverse habitat, and wild spaces that protect water quality in our aquifers.”

“YES on 6 brings so many environmental, public health, and economic benefits to the region, from the access of safe green spaces to a clean and swimmable Charles River. Despite popular belief, Massachusetts’ local and state investments in parks and recreation are at or near the bottom of all US states, relative to its population, income, and total government spending,” said Laura Jasinski, Executive Director of the Charles River Conservancy. “With the much-needed funding provided by a Yes on Question 6, this investment will produce dramatic returns in conservation and recreation without additional taxes. As someone who grew up in Western Mass and lives in Medford, I encourage everyone across Massachusetts to protect nature and water: Join me in voting "Yes on 6" with confidence, determination, and joy.”

“For nearly two centuries, the connection between people and nature has made Mount Auburn Cemetery an urban oasis and a refuge for wildlife. Investment in conservation and stewardship preserves that same opportunity for comfort, inspiration and well-being in green spaces across the Commonwealth, today and for future generations,” said Matthew R. Stephens, President & Chief Executive Officer of Mount Auburn Cemetery. “Our rapidly changing climate makes that responsibility more urgent. A Nature for All Fund would ensure that commitment endures.”

The following Greater Boston organizations are supporting Question 6:

Arlington Land Trust

Authentic Caribbean Foundation

Beyond Plastics Greater Boston

Boston Harbor Now

Brookline GreenSpace Alliance

Charles River Conservancy

Charles River Watershed Association

Climate Reality Project Boston Metro Chapter

Dedham Greenspace Coalition

Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Esplanade Association

First Parish UU Climate Action Team

Friends of Cold Spring Park

Friends of the Blue Hills

Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation

Green Cambridge

Green Newton

GreenRoots

Hale Education, Inc

Mount Auburn Cemetery

Mystic River Watershed Association

Somerville Democratic City Committee

Studio Shangri-La Multimedia

The Neighborhood Developers

Tree Boston

Waltham Land Trust

In supporting Question 6, the local groups join a broad coalition of more than 125 organizations led by the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups such as Mass Audubon, The Trustees, Appalachian Mountain Club, the Conservation Law Foundation, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land. Also supporting Question 6 are sporting and outdoor recreation groups such as Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Surfrider Foundation Massachusetts, and the New England Mountain Bike Association, and farming and gardening advocates including the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, American Farmland Trust, Grow Native Massachusetts, and Native Plant Trust.

Individual endorsers include current and former elected officials like Governor Maura Healey, former Governor Deval Patrick, State Senator Jason Lewis, and State Representative Sam Montaño, and environmental leaders like former U.S. EPA Administrator and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and author, environmentalist, and activist Bill McKibben. A full list of Question 6 endorsements can be found at natureforma.org/endorsements.

This month, the YES on 6 campaign began airing an ad titled “Naturally” on television and digital channels across the state. The ad features Mass Audubon wildlife biologist Lyra Brennan and The Trustees park ranger Matt Zieper addressing how Question 6 would protect clean drinking water; conserve forests, family farms, and natural wildlife habitat; and create more parks, trails, and greenspaces for all to enjoy — without raising taxes.

Background

Question 6, the ‘Protect Water and Nature’ initiative, would dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes. Question 6 would create a dedicated Nature for All Fund with as much as $100 million each year to support the conservation and restoration of water and natural areas in Massachusetts, protect the quality of our drinking water and natural wildlife habitats, and support the creation and improvement of parks, trails, greenspaces, and other outdoor recreation spaces.

The Nature for All Fund would be funded by the state’s existing sales tax on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and fishing equipment — not by creating a new tax. Question 6 allocates just 0.16% of the state’s $63.4 billion annual budget, but it would make a big difference for land and water. Question 6 would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund, with strict annual reporting requirements to track every dollar spent.

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The YES on 6 campaign is led by Nature for Massachusetts, a large and diverse coalition of environmental, conservation, and community organizations that seek to create a dedicated, annual revenue stream to conserve water, land, urban greenspace, outdoor recreation access, and wildlife in Massachusetts. For more information, visit natureforma.org.