December 3, 2025 - The Mount Holyoke Range. Mount Tom. Lake Wyola. Tully Lake. The Quabbin Reservoir. Robert Frost Trail. These are just a few of the beloved state parks and trails that are part of the fabric of life in western Mass.

Places like these are what makes Massachusetts — and the Connecticut River Valley — such a great place to live. Our state’s rivers, lakes, forests, farms, and other natural areas play a critical role in our everyday lives — improving our daily routines, boosting our health, and strengthening our state’s economy…

Next year, Massachusetts has an important opportunity to protect our rivers, lakes, forests, farms, and other natural areas by supporting the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative.

December 2, 2025 - The state would be required to set aside $100 million in taxpayer money for land and water conservation under a proposal inching toward the 2026 ballot.

Backers of the “Protect Water and Nature” ballot initiative say they have collected more than 90,000 signatures from voters who support the measure, clearing a major hurdle in the qualifying process. Those signatures were due to be submitted to the Secretary of State’s office by Wednesday.

If approved, the proposal would divert a portion of sales tax from sporting goods and camping gear into a “Nature for All Fund” used to conserve or restore land to protect drinking water, rivers and farms. The proposal calls for allocating $100 million for the fund.

December 1, 2025 - On the first day of shotgun season, Emma Ellsworth traded her hunting post for a hike to the State House steps to show her support for nature and conservation.

“When we protect our open spaces, our forests, our farms, the places where we go to hunt and fish, source local food and local timbers we're also protecting the air we breathe and our drinking water, we're protecting wildlife,” said Ellsworth, executive director of Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust.

Ellsworth, who is also vice chair of the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, joined dozens of others donning outdoor gear for a hike across the Charles River up Beacon Hill Monday to rally for a ballot initiative that could generate $100 million annually for water and nature conservation and restoration efforts.

December 1, 2025 - A coalition of more than 60 conservation and nature groups say a proposed ballot question for next year’s election could raise more than $100 million to help preserve natural areas and create more outdoor recreational spaces in Massachusetts, including trails and parks.

Supporters have dubbed the ballot question the “Protect Water and Nature” initiative. It would direct state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses to a fund dedicated to natural resource conservation.

Jodi Valenta, Massachusetts director for the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, pointed to Georgia, where voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 to create a similar conservation funding source that taps existing excise taxes on sporting goods.

December 1, 2025 - 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, hiked across the Charles River and up Beacon Hill on Monday morning before rallying outside the State House, as they turned in more than 90,000 certified signatures to advance the land and water conservation measure toward the 2026 statewide ballot.

“Everyone in Massachusetts — no matter where we live — deserves clean drinking water and access to nature. Next year, Massachusetts has an important opportunity to protect our rivers, lakes, forests, farms, and other natural areas,” said David O'Neill, President & CEO of Mass Audubon.

November 24, 2025 - Supporters of a potential 2026 voter referendum that could generate $100 million annually for conservation and restoration efforts around water and nature collected more than 100,000 signatures…

The measure would steer sales tax revenue from sporting goods like golf clubs, RVs and camping gear into a new Nature for All Fund.  The petition's goal is to conserve or restore land to protect drinking water, streams, rivers, lakes, coasts, farms and forests. Funding could also support land and natural resources with "indigenous cultural significance."

November 23, 2025 - Supporters of a potential 2026 voter referendum that could generate $100 million annually for conservation and restoration efforts around water and nature said Tuesday they surpassed the number of signatures that are due this week.

Advocates with the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative gathered more than 100,000 signatures for the measure, exceeding the 74,574 signatures that must be filed with local election officials for certification by Wednesday.

November 19, 2025 - Rounding out the field, proponents say they gathered more than 100,000 signatures on a question that would redirect revenue from the state’s sales tax on sporting goods toward water and land conservation. 

The “Protect Water and Nature” campaign said the measure could steer $100 million per year toward creating outdoor recreational spaces, preserving natural areas, and protecting drinking water. 

“It’s 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,” said campaign supporter Andrew Sharpe.

November 19, 2025 - Supporters of a potential 2026 voter referendum that could generate $100 million annually for conservation and restoration efforts around water and nature said Tuesday they surpassed the number of signatures that are due this week.

Advocates with the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative gathered more than 100,000 signatures for the measure, exceeding the 74,574 signatures that must be filed with local election officials for certification by Wednesday.

November 19, 2025 - Ballot questions about rent control, all-party state primaries and funding for water and nature conservancy are among those expected to clear a major hurdle Wednesday to advance toward the 2026 ballot.

Advocates behind a potential ballot question that would direct funds from the state sales tax on sporting goods to water and nature conservancy efforts said they collected more than the required 74,574 signatures.

Emily McGranachan, an associate director at Trust for Public Land, said the proposed question will “ensure my family, and especially my children, can continue to experience the wonder and beauty of the outdoors here in Massachusetts.”

November 18, 2025 - Supporters of a potential 2026 voter referendum that could generate $100 million annually for conservation and restoration efforts around water and nature said Tuesday they surpassed the number of signatures that are due this week.

Advocates with the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative gathered more than 100,000 signatures for the measure, exceeding the 74,574 signatures that must be filed with local election officials for certification by Wednesday

November 18, 2025 - 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 collected significantly more than the required 74,574 signatures to advance the initiative toward the 2026 statewide ballot.

Tomorrow is the deadline for ballot signatures to be filed with local election officials for certification, before they are submitted to the Secretary of State’s office by Wednesday, December 3.

November 1, 2025 - If state legislators fail to pass legislation reallocating sales tax revenue on sporting goods to support protecting and conserving water and nature, a coalition of conservation agencies is prepared to bring the proposal to voters next November.

Nature for Massachusetts, a coalition of more than 50 conservation trusts and nature protection organizations, is collecting signatures for a Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative. If passed, the initiative would reallocate $100 million in existing state funds from the state sales tax on sporting goods to create a Nature for All Fund, which could be used to support the conservation and restoration of water and natural areas in Massachusetts, and to create more outdoor recreational spaces like trails and state parks.

October 20, 2025 - Dozens of Organizations Collecting Signatures to Place Initiative on November 2026 Ballot That Would Establish Dedicated Fund for Land and Water Conservation — Without Raising Taxes

The organizations endorsing the campaign include the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups as well as dozens of local groups from every corner of the state.

WCVB Ch. 5 covered the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance advocacy day for bills that would support local waterways, including our legislation to create the Nature for All Fund to “to protect the land, trails, and all the waterways.”

October 15, 2025 - “As rain pelted the State House, advocates for the Bay State’s many rivers and watersheds gathered Oct. 8 in a fourth-floor hearing room to prepare their call for the support of waterways across Massachusetts. [One bill] would create a new pot of money, called the Nature for All Fund, which would use tax revenue from an existing tax on sporting goods to pay for land acquisition, restoration of natural spaces to create parks and trails, and the protection of natural resources like waterways and forests.”

July 1, 2025 - Nature for Massachusetts Coalition Seeks Dedicated Fund to Reach State Goals for Nature and Climate

“The coalition – which consists of more than 50 local and statewide organizations – made the case for a dedicated sustainable revenue stream to protect and restore land, water, urban greenspace, and outdoor recreational access across Massachusetts.”

June 26, 2025 - Nature for Massachusetts Coalition Urges Inclusion of Dedicated Funding Mechanism for Climate Resilience in Mass Ready Act

“Our coalition knows that the Commonwealth needs a long-term, dedicated, and scalable funding solution for nature-based climate resilience, land and water conservation, and equitable outdoor access, and the Nature for Massachusetts bill provides the solution.”

May 8, 2025 - Nature for Massachusetts Proposal Would Create Sustainable and Reliable Resources to Restore and Improve Nature to Create Parks and Trails; Protect Forests, Farms, Wildlife Habitats, and Water Resources; and Advance Climate Resiliency and Environmental Justice Goals

April 25, 2025 - “In a recent conversation with the News Service, O’Neill talked about where nature-based climate solutions fit into the state’s climate goals, how Mass Audubon wants Massachusetts to invest more in conservation, and the ways the organization is adjusting to federal funding and policy threats.”