Two landmark conservation laws recognized
The Montana Wildlife Federation joins conservation organizations around Montana and the nation in celebrating the 50th anniversary of two of the most significant conservation laws of the 20th century — the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and the Wilderness Act.
Fifty years ago today (Sept. 3, 2014), President Lyndon B. Johnson put his signature on these two landmark laws, ushering in a new era of protection for America’s public lands and outdoor heritage.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund was intended to set aside a portion of federal revenues from offshore oil and gas development to support the protection of public lands and waters. Over the last 50 years, LWCF has still resulted in about $16 billion in spending nationwide, protecting everything from national forest wilderness lands to urban parks. Montana has received more than $400 million in funding.
The Wilderness Act established a process for permanently protecting public lands from road construction, logging, mining and other development. The Act designated the first 9.1 million acres of wilderness, including the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. Since 1964, just over 100 million additional acres of wilderness have been designated nationwide.
Montana has benefited enormously over the last 50 years from both the LWCF and the Wilderness Act. Our public lands provide habitat for fish and wildlife and recreational opportunity for hunters, anglers, backpackers and other outdoors enthusiasts. They also support a sustainable, multi-billion dollar economy that creates tens of thousands of jobs.
The LWCF and Wilderness acts were the product of bipartisan effort and passed with overwhelming support. Fifty years later, Congress has several proposals on the table to continue a bipartisan public land conservation agenda.
The Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act has overwhelming public support and awaits action. The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act would designate hundreds of thousands of acres of new wilderness while also expediting forest management activities in needed areas. Dozens of LWCF projects await funding, and legislation to permanently fund the program is ready for a vote.
On signing the two laws, President Johnson commented, “We know that America cannot be made strong by leadership which reacts only to the needs or the irritations or the frustrations of the moment. True leadership must provide for the next decade and not merely the next day.”
Our elected leaders would do well to heed President Johnson’s advice today.
Dave Chadwick is the executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation.