TO: Political Office
FROM: Grace Vaughn, Kylee Hendrickson, Piper Thacher, Michael Sengmong, Carl
Malinsky, Jamileth Picavia-Salazar, Shaila Vester- Skinner
DATE: 25 October 2021
RE: Conserving 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 plan and what
federal policies are needed to reach goals
America currently faces the loss of species biodiversity due to changes in land use and increasing climate change. The 30×30 goal was created to conserve 30% of lands and waters by the year 2030 in order to help protect biodiversity, reverse climate change, and create equitable access to green spaces. Under the Biden administration’s “America the Beautiful” initiative and Biden’s Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis Change at Home and Abroad, the administration emphasizes the importance of pursuing strategies that will grow our economy while also promoting stewardship of the Earth. The 2021 America the Beautiful report recommends policies to support the 30×30 goal, including the establishment of new protected areas and voluntary conservation of private property, such as through easements. While this initiative is voluntary, we could incentivize action by increasing the amount of tax credit available for Virginia to give out during the year for land conservation that would support the 30×30 goals. Finally, we recommend that the public is educated about the 30×30 initiative so that public support for it can be built. This is a plan worth investing in in order to slow the impacts of climate change and promote a sustainable future.
Currently, only 12% of the United States land area is conserved as national parks, national wildlife refuges, state parks, or other protected areas, and only 26% of U.S. waters are protected. Many scientists support the initiative to protect 30% of oceans and lands by 2030, and to specifically focus on areas with high biodiversity.
If enacted, the order would:
- Fight climate change and prevent declines in biodiversity by protecting the minimum amount of land and waters needed to do so.
- Restore coastal ecosystems and their biodiversity.
- Protect terrestrial and marine ecosystems; promote agroecology, increase funding to protect biodiversity; and identify links between deforestation and the health of humans and animals.
- Return access to lands, as well as providing for economic growth.
- Incentivize and reward the voluntary conservation efforts of fishers, ranchers, farmers, and forest owners.
- Reduce the risk of future extreme weather, global health crises, and pandemics.
- Protect Indigenous People’s livelihood and cultures by conserving nature while also abiding by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
- Create more parks and safe outdoor opportunities in nature-deprived communities.
- Create jobs by investing in restoration and resilience projects and initiatives, including the Civilian Climate Corps.
Outcome goals were established after hearing from stakeholders. Progress towards these conservation goals will be tracked and measured through reports created by government agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and NOAA. A working group of these agencies will also establish the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas tool.
Key principles guiding these conservation efforts include:
- Honoring Tribal sovereignty and supporting the priorities of Tribal Nations.
- Honoring private property rights and supporting the voluntary stewardship efforts of private landowners.
- Pursuing conservation and restoration approaches that create jobs and support healthy communities.
- Building on existing tools and strategies with an emphasis on flexibility and adaptive approaches.
The Department of the Interior has partnered with the Department of Agriculture and Commerce and the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality to develop initial recommendations on how to advance an inclusive and collaborative conservation vision. These eight key principles will ensure that we remain stewards of the earth while advancing our economy.
Pros: The 30×30 conservation plan, implemented by the Biden Administration, attempts to redefine what conservation means. The environmental impacts of implementing this policy would include, but are not limited to, the expansion of wildlife corridors, increasing carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector, and avoiding conversion of forests and grasslands. Furthermore, in the push to conserve more lands and oceans, it will create more jobs for the U.S. economy. Protected natural areas draw visitors and benefit local economies through outdoor recreation. Every year, the outdoor recreation economy provides $887 billion in economic output nationwide, creates 7.6 million direct jobs, and generates $125 billion in tax revenue. Low-income communities are often at the frontline of experiencing climate change impacts. Achieving conservation goals can reduce climate change risks. Tribes will be respected and supported in their conservation efforts. Restoration of native homelands not only helps right past wrongs, but research has also revealed that biodiversity on land typically declines less when managed by Indigenous people. Farmers and ranchers will also be able to keep their land while helping conserve their property. Broadly the plan will benefit the economy, future generations, and promote the health of U.S. citizens.
Cons: A large concern in implementing this plan is the cost: acquiring the land, administration, and management. Opposition may increase if some believe this plan will reallocate funding from other issues or the lands that are being set aside potentially could be used for businesses or residential development. On a more local level, it is unknown how the plan would influence economies and communities. In addition, this policy does not consider the implications for food security; an increase in conserved land could lead to an increase in the price of food. Effects on equity could also become a problem due to the marginalization of rural people. The 30×30 plan approaches conservation in the United States as a whole and does not offer geographically differentiated recommendations. For example, many states already have a large percentage of federally owned land such as Nebraska (97%), causing some to worry about federal overreach. While scientists have stated that it is important to conserve lands and oceans with high biodiversity, policies also need to address conservation in places of importance to communities of color, those economically disadvantaged, and Tribal communities. One of the plan’s key principles is to honor private property rights, but in trying to conserve Indigenous lands and farmers’ property, there needs to be guarantees that their decision-making powers are not abrogated. Other key stakeholders, such as fishermen and hunters, will need to know how this plan will affect their access to lands and waters. In the event of random natural disasters, the 30×30 has yet to say how it will help ensure protection for these lands and how they would get the resources such as equipment and people to protect these lands in these situations. Finally, it is important that the Biden Administration add details on the 30×30 plan. The plan is still fresh and lacks much-needed information for the public, causing skeptics to be concerned about the integrity and feasibility of this policy.
Analysis: The 30×30 plan is an executive order at the federal level; how the plan is enacted in each state will vary. However, the general consensus is that the plan will involve the establishment and or restoration of state parks, national wildlife refuges, wildlife corridors, national parks, urban conservation, and private land conservation. By creating public green spaces such as parks in areas deprived of natural environments, it will increase the public’s understanding of the need for conservation and the 30×30 initiative. To better enact this plan, available tax credits for conservation should be increased. This would further encourage people to be a part of the conservation efforts because of the tax benefits. Another important point to include while enacting this plan within states is to restore parks and wildlife areas that may be important to communities of color, those economically disadvantaged, and tribal communities.
Key points on how the 30×30 plan would be implemented are as follows:
- An inclusive approach towards conservation; making it a national goal.
- Pursuing conservation efforts that will support the creation of jobs and healthy communities.
- Building on top of existing tools and strategies towards this effort.
- Supporting local conservation efforts.
- Respecting and honoring Tribal nations and their efforts.
Virginia Angle: The main barrier is that nearly 4 million acres of land will need to be protected in Virginia to meet the plan’s requirements. Less than one-fifth of Virginia is currently protected at the local, state, and federal levels. Most of the state’s lands are federally protected, making up about 57% of the protected areas with locally protected areas making up about 3%. Virginia has approximately 82.9% of private land, which may make this policy concerning for some landowners. Conservation easements are legal procedures that enable the protection of private land without ownership/management transfer. A tax break could help these owners adhere to Biden’s plan and contribute to the goal.
If we can obtain more protected land for conservation in Virginia, we can help protect native species and provide space for the public to come and enjoy the outdoors while also educating them in conservation efforts. With new areas expanding, it would provide more jobs and prove that the development was beneficial to the state.