Press Release: Land and Water Conservation Supporters Submit Final Signatures to Place ‘Protect Water and Nature’ Initiative on November Ballot
For Immediate Release: June 30, 2026
Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@acfstrategies.com
Land and Water Conservation Supporters Submit Final Signatures to Place ‘Protect Water and Nature’ Initiative on November Ballot
Dozens of Environmental Organizations Backing Ballot Initiative to Establish Dedicated Fund for Land and Water Conservation in Massachusetts — Without Raising Taxes
BOSTON — Supporters of the ‘Protect Water and Nature’ ballot initiative, which would dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature, today announced that they have submitted the final signatures needed to place the land and water conservation measure on the 2026 statewide ballot.
“The Nature for Massachusetts Coalition collected more than 22,000 signatures in just a few weeks from people across the Commonwealth who are ready, willing, and eager to support our initiative to protect clean water and natural lands, without raising taxes," said David O'Neill, President & CEO of Mass Audubon. “This overwhelming enthusiasm was apparent in every part of Massachusetts and we look forward to seeing the will of voters carry us across the finish line in November.”
“We are proud to have activated The Trustees community in the signature drive to protect water and nature through this ballot initiative,” said Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees of Reservations. “Every day across the state, we see how people treasure time in special places, from the coastline, to forests, to community gardens and parks — all places that are essential to our health, our communities, and our future.”
The ‘Protect Water and Nature’ initiative would dedicate as much as $100 million each year to a new Nature for All Fund that would support the conservation and restoration of water and natural areas in Massachusetts, protect the quality of our drinking water and natural wildlife habitats, and create more outdoor recreational spaces like trails and parks that everyone can enjoy — without raising taxes. The Nature for All Fund would be funded by the state’s existing sales tax on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and RVs — not by creating a new tax. The law would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund, with strict annual reporting requirements for all expenditures.
“When we invest in conservation and public recreation, we invest in the Commonwealth's economy,” said Anna Darrow, New England Policy Manager at the Appalachian Mountain Club. “Massachusetts has the fastest-growing outdoor recreation economy in the nation, generating billions of dollars and supporting tens of thousands of jobs annually. As the nation's oldest conservation organization, AMC has a longstanding commitment to protecting the trails, parks, and public lands that connect people with the outdoors. The Nature for All Fund would help steward and conserve these shared spaces, ensuring they continue to support healthy communities, local economies, and outdoor experiences for generations.”
The Nature for Massachusetts coalition collected more than 22,000 signatures from Massachusetts voters in May and June, using a combination of volunteers and paid signature gatherers. Volunteers from dozens of organizations within the coalition contributed to the campaign’s milestone by collecting thousands of signatures from their neighbors at farmers’ markets, festivals, trailheads, and wildlife sanctuaries. Supporters previously collected more than 100,000 signatures from voters last fall to advance the measure toward the ballot.
“Today's milestone reflects the strong commitment of Massachusetts residents to protecting the lands and waters that sustain our communities,” said Jodi Valenta, Associate Vice President and Massachusetts State Director for Trust for Public Land. “The Commonwealth has the opportunity to join Georgia, Texas, and Virginia in establishing a proven, dedicated funding source to protect water, conserve natural lands, and expand access to the outdoors for everyone.”
The ‘Protect Water and Nature’ ballot initiative is supported by more than 80 environmental, conservation, and community organizations throughout Massachusetts, including the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups as well as dozens of local groups from every corner of the state.
“Massachusetts’ Connecticut River Valley has some of the best farmland in the country, with hundreds of family farms that grow fresh, local food for families across the state. We have large blocks of contiguous forest that provide wildlife habitat and ensure our resilience from storms and flooding brought on by climate change. And we have a growing number of parks and trails that offer recreational access for tens of thousands of people from our small towns, cities like Holyoke and Easthampton, and weekend visitors from all across the state,” said Kristin DeBoer, Executive Director of the Kestrel Land Trust. “The Protect Water and Nature initiative will help preserve and protect the places we love, ensuring that people everywhere in Massachusetts have clean water and access to the outdoors for generations to come.”
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The Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative 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.