Why Massachusetts Needs Question 6

Everyone in Massachusetts — no matter where we live — deserves clean drinking water, healthy natural areas, and access to the outdoors.

A small waterway running through a lush green wetland, surrounded by tall grasses and dense trees under a cloudy sky.

Clean Water & Watersheds

Safeguarding drinking water and rivers from pollution.

A butterfly with orange and black markings sitting on a yellow flower, surrounded by green grass.

Forests, Farms & Habitat

Saving family farms, wetlands, and native wildlife before they disappear.

A young girl with curly brown hair, wearing a pink coat with red heart patterns and yellow gardening gloves, is planting purple pansy flowers in the soil outdoors. A gardening trowel lies nearby, and the scene takes place in a park or garden with a sidewalk, grass, and parked cars in the background.

Health, Kids & Recreation

Mental health, screen-free play, and accessible local parks.

Beach scene with people relaxing, standing, and walking near the water, colorful umbrellas and chairs on the sand, a person with a lifeguard stand, and a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Economic Value & ROI

$4 returned in economic value for every $1 invested in conservation.

Our forests, family farms, and natural areas are part of what makes Massachusetts so great.

Question 6 will fund land and water conservation year after year to permanently protect them for future generations.

Protect Clean Drinking Water & Watersheds

Conserving forests and natural areas prevents toxic runoff from flowing to lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater, protecting drinking water in municipal taps and private wells.

Protection at the Tap

Cleaning Up Polluted Waters

Question 6 will reduce pollution in our rivers, lakes, streams, and the ocean so they're safe to swim, boat, and fish in.

Wetland Preservation

Question 6 will help reverse the loss of wetlands that act as natural filters and flood absorbers for local communities.

Health, Recreation, & Kids’ Outdoor Access

Young girl in a pink fuzzy jacket petting a light-colored horse with a black mane and a red halter, standing by a wooden fence outdoors.
A person standing at the edge of a river during sunset with trees and clear sky in the background.

Question 6 will create new local parks, playgrounds, and trails, giving children space to run, play, and experience nature — away from digital screens.

Kids & Physical Health

Research shows that exposure to nature improves brain function, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and enhances sleep quality and mental health.

Mental & Physical Well-being

Question 6 will help ensure that every neighborhood— urban, suburban, and rural—has accessible green space, clean air, and safe walking trails close to home.

Equitable Access to Nature

Protecting Forests, Farms, and Wildlife Habitats

  • Sustaining Working Farms

    Question 6 will help preserve local family farms across Massachusetts so they can continue producing fresh, local food for Bay State families.

  • Protecting Wildlife & Biodiversity

    Question 6 will help protect critical habitats for diverse species of birds, fish, pollinators, and animals that depend on intact forests, salt marshes, and streams for survival.

  • Preventing Irreversible Loss

    Farmland and open spaces are disappearing fast across the state. Question 6 will help protect them before it’s too late.

Economic ROI & Natural Services

  • $4 Return in Economic Value

    A study by The Trust for Public Land demonstrates that every $1 invested in land conservation yields $4 in economic value by naturally purifying drinking water, preventing flood damage, and supporting local outdoor industries.

  • Natural Hazard Prevention

    Natural lands provide cost-effective infrastructure services like natural flood mitigation, water purification, and soil stabilization, saving towns millions in storm damage and artificial filtration costs.

  • Boosting Outdoor Economies

    By protecting land and water, Question 6 will support local outdoor recreation and tourism businesses and agricultural economies across Massachusetts.

  • No New Taxes

    Reallocates the existing sales tax on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and fishing equipment without adding new taxes or raising tax rates.

Act Now Before It's Too Late

With federal conservation funding facing uncertainties and climate threats impacting our watersheds, Massachusetts cannot wait. Every year we delay, more forests, working farms, and wetlands are permanently lost, making protection far more expensive in the future. Passing Question 6 protects the places we love today so they are preserved for our children and grandchildren.

Pledge to Vote YES