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What Is the LWCF, and Where'd It Come From? The LWCF was created in 1964, based on the simple principle that funds acquired from resource extraction should be invested back into the protection of our most valuable special places. The law requires that the federal government use portions of revenues derived from offshore oil and gas leasing (which today add up to over $4.7 billion annually) to purchase lands in and around national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests and other public lands.
Unfortunately, the tremendous promise made by the LWCF Act has never been fulfilled. Of the $900 million promised annually for both state and federal projects, only a fraction has ever been provided. Year after year, Congress has siphoned funding intended for the LWCF to mask the federal deficit. The result is a huge backlog in the federal acquisition of valuable wildlands. The states have been given the short shrift as well. For several years, Congress provided absolutely no funding for the stateside portion of the LWCF, depriving state and local governments of a crucial tool in efforts to provide Americans green, open spaces and outdoor recreation opportunities. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
In addition, the Act set up a state matching-grants program, under which states and local governments can get aid for the planning and development of outdoor recreation facilities, which may include land acquisition.