Press Release: Southeast Mass Environmental 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
Southeast Mass Environmental 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
Cohasset, Mass. — Local conservation groups, land trusts, and community organizations across Southeast Massachusetts 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.
“Voting YES on Question 6 is the easiest way for voters to have an enormous impact on the future of our environment,” said Nick Wildman, Executive Director of the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT). “Here in Southeastern Mass, this program will not only result in more protected habitat, but much-needed funding for work to protect against climate change effects and restore ecological functions.”
“My organization has worked for a decade to protect wildlife habitat through education and hands-on removal of invasive plants that threaten our wild spaces,” said Lisey Good, Founder of Wild Cohasset. “At my frequent lectures throughout Massachusetts, someone always asks: 'what can I do to help?' Now I tell them: the single most important thing you can do to protect our forests is to vote YES on 6 — and to spread the word about it.”
“The pace of development in Rehoboth has increased dramatically in the last few years as large parcels of undeveloped land have become available. If we had access to state funds created by sporting goods sales taxes to help level the playing field with developers, who are quick to make irresistible deals, we would have a greater chance to preserve the open space desired by Rehoboth residents, naturalists, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts,” said Carol Entin, President of the Rehoboth Land Trust Inc. “With Rehoboth residents critically dependent on private wells and septic systems, a YES vote on Question 6 would enable us to protect our water resources, acquire significant open spaces with wildlife diversity, preserve local scenic beauty, and provide outdoor recreation areas for generations to come.”
The following Southeast Mass organizations are supporting Question 6:
Cohasset Open Space and Recreation Committee
Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust
Friends of Holly Hill Farm
Native Land Conservancy
North and South Rivers Watershed Association
Quincy Climate Action Network (QCAN)
Rehoboth Land Trust, Inc.
Sustainable Plymouth
Wild Cohasset
Wildlands 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, and State Senator Paul Feeney, 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.