Press Release: Land and Water Conservation Supporters Testify at Hearing on ‘Protect Water and Nature’ Ballot Initiative
For Immediate Release: March 23, 2026
Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@acfstrategies.com
Land and Water Conservation Supporters Testify at Hearing on ‘Protect Water and Nature’ Ballot Initiative
Dozens of 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 testified on Beacon Hill today during a legislative hearing on the initiative, which would dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature.
“Nature is something we care deeply about because it gives us so much in return — clean water, clean air, lands resilient to storm events, and places to enjoy, recreate, and escape the many distractions of our world today. Seven in 10 voters in the Commonwealth support the creation of a dedicated funding source to protect nature, as does a diverse coalition of 100 organizations representing tens of thousands of people,” said David O’Neill, President and CEO of Mass Audubon. “The bottom line is we need the state to up its investments as well or we’ll fall short of meeting the Commonwealth’s nation-leading climate and nature goals and deprive future generations of experiences in nature that we all value. We sincerely hope the legislature takes this up, as the funding to protect the nature of Massachusetts is so urgently needed.”
“Conserving land and water in Massachusetts is a long-term investment in people, communities, local economies and our one and only home — this planet,” said Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees. “Creating this dedicated source of funding will allow our organization and others across the Commonwealth to accelerate conservation and restoration of special places in nature, including large contiguous tracts of forestland for carbon sequestration, watersheds that protect clean drinking water and biodiversity, and the trails, parks, community gardens and other open spaces where people everywhere can enjoy spending time outside.”
The Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative would create a dedicated Nature for All Fund with approximately $100 million each year to support the conservation and restoration of water and land in Massachusetts, and to 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 golf clubs, RVs, and camping gear — not by creating a new tax. The law would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund.
The initiative would generate approximately $100 million each year to support the conservation and restoration of water and natural areas in Massachusetts, and create more outdoor recreational spaces like trails and parks that everyone can enjoy — without raising taxes. The ballot campaign is supported by more than 60 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.
“In recent years, more families than ever are seeking help to protect their farms and forest lands. At Mount Grace alone we are tracking 5,000 acres of active land projects in need of conservation. We are experiencing not only a generational wealth transfer but also a generational land transfer,” said Emma Ellsworth, Executive Director of the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. “These 5,000 acres are the farms, woodlands and wetlands that provide us with clean air, the water we drink, and the nutritious sustainable local produce we enjoy. They also serve as shelter and home to our state's incredible wildlife. If we don’t act now, and act quickly, and find the necessary funding, we could let this singular opportunity to help ensure our children’s access to protected open space fall through our fingers! This initiative is our chance to permanently protect access to Massachusetts' farms and forests for countless future generations.”
“Dedicating the sporting goods sales tax to land and water conservation will help guarantee access to clean waters used for drinking, swimming, fishing, and other forms of water-based recreation and income generation. Our 87 member organizations — dispersed throughout the state — share a vested interest in the health of Massachusetts' rivers and watersheds. By extension, our members strive to protect forests, wetlands, and riparian buffers, i.e., natural lands that reinforce the integrity of waterways and water flows; filter pollutants from drinking water supplies; and safeguard biodiversity of aquatic habitats,” said David McGlinchey, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance. “These lands are increasingly important as impacts of flooding, erosion, and drought may impose costly damage on our communities. Passing this initiative will help to offset future costs by delivering much-needed funding for the protection of our waters and surrounding natural lands.”
“As a privately owned manufacturing company with a commitment to protecting nature and creating a more sustainable marketplace, a significant part of our work serves the outdoor sporting goods and recreation industries — sectors that depend on access to healthy, well-maintained natural spaces,” said Abigail McLean, an Environmental, Sustainability, and Safety Lead at Bemis Associates, Inc., a manufacturing company based in Shirley, Massachusetts that specializes in thermoplastic adhesives used in the apparel, industrial, and consumer electronics markets. “We believe this bill is a smart, sustainable step forward that
aligns economic activity with environmental stewardship, and we're proud to show our support for policy that protects outdoor spaces not only in our community, but across Massachusetts.”
“By dedicating existing revenue from the sporting goods tax, we can ensure that the places where this gear is used — our trails, lakes, forests, and parks — can be preserved and improved without placing an added tax burden on residents,” McLean continued. “It’s a fiscally responsible way to reinvest in the environments that sustain both outdoor recreation and local economies across the Commonwealth.”
“It is our fundamental right as human beings to have access to safe spaces that support our mental well-being,” said Andrew Sharpe, Founder and CEO of the Authentic Caribbean Foundation. “Nature — our parks, waterways, and green spaces — plays a vital role in bringing our communities together through events, family gatherings, and moments of reflection. As we talked to our neighbors this fall at farmers’ markets and parks across the state, it became clear that voters want to prioritize and protect our rivers, lakes, forests, farms, and other natural areas, especially as federal funding for land and water conservation is under threat.”
Representatives from the Charles River Watershed Association, Conservation Law Foundation, Charles River Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition all spoke in support of the initiative during the hearing’s public testimony period.
About the Protect Water and Nature Ballot Initiative
The Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative would create a dedicated Nature for All Fund with approximately $100 million each year to support the conservation and restoration of water and land in Massachusetts, and to 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 golf clubs, RVs, and camping gear — not by creating a new tax. The law would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund.
###
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.