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.
“From local parks to long-distance trails, outdoor recreation is part of who we are in Massachusetts,” Nicole Zussman, president and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club, said in a statement. “This initiative ensures that the places where we hike, paddle and explore are protected for generations to come, while creating new opportunities for everyone to get outside in their community.”
“Massachusetts voters have a powerful opportunity to shape the future of our environment,” added Jodi Valenta, Massachusetts state director for Trust for Public Land. “By signing the petition to place the Protect Water and Nature initiative on the 2026 ballot, we can protect clean water, conserve wildlife, create parks and preserve the natural beauty that defines our commonwealth for generations.”
Joining the coalition in endorsing the ballot initiative are several Pioneer Valley conservation trusts that say the Nature for All Fund could provide much-needed funding to support land conservation in western Massachusetts.
Franklin Land Trust Executive Director Mary Lynn Sabourin said that for Massachusetts to achieve its conservation goals, “increased public investment in land and water protection” is necessary. Reallocating a portion of sales tax revenues toward a Nature for All Fund could provide conservation agencies with the dollars they need to assist property owners in putting conservation restrictions on land that would otherwise be developed.
“For the Franklin Land Trust, access to such funding can make all the difference. It can mean acting swiftly when a landowner approaches us wanting to protect their woodlot, but facing financial pressure to clear-cut it to support his family instead. It can mean helping a lifelong farmer choose to conserve the land that has been in their family for generations, rather than sell it for development, in order to fund their retirement,” Sabourin wrote in an email. “The Franklin Land Trust receives dozens of such calls monthly. With greater access to funding, we could say ‘yes’ more often — to the landowners who want to do right by their land, to the farmers seeking to preserve their legacy, and to the communities that depend on open space and clean water. Every acre we protect is a story saved — and with the support of the Nature for All Fund, we can save many more.”
Kristin DeBoer, executive director of the Amherst-based Kestrel Land Trust, said that with budget cuts to federal programs that support conservation, local agencies need new ways to support their efforts. Reallocating existing state tax revenue is a good option.
“With the loss of federal funding, it’s important that we have a dedicated funding stream,” DeBoer said. “This seemed like a winner.
“We are dedicated to protecting land and we have a line of property owners seeking to conserve their land,” DeBoer continued. “This is the kind of funding we need to support this work. … We hope everyone will sign this petition to get it on the ballot.”
Max Feldman, deputy director of the Athol-based Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, said that if passed by voters, the new fund could help protect major water supplies and the land that surrounds them.
“The land we steward has water that is all interconnected. This fund would provide us with more tools for conserving water, farms and forests,” Feldman said. “It’s really all about drinking water. … Conserving forests and farms helps prevent runoff and protects clean drinking water.”
Feldman said that while the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust covers parts of western and central Massachusetts, the Nature For All Fund would provide tools to help conservation across the whole state, and in the case of Mount Grace, would help support the Quabbin Reservoir, which is the primary water supply for Boston.
He added that conserving land for recreational use is important for mental health, and many people from the eastern part of the state journey west to enjoy rural landscapes and conserved forests.
“Everyone deserves access to nature, clean water and food. No matter where you live in the state, this impacts you,” Feldman said. “The impact will be on everyone, not just people who hike, hunt or fish.”
Nature for Massachusetts is still collecting signatures, but according to representative Andrew Farnitano, they are on track and “fully expect” to reach a goal of 75,000 signatures required to put the initiative on the ballot in November 2026, if state legislators do not make progress on legislation that would create the fund.
S.2571 in the Senate and its companion bill in the House, H.901, “An Act Providing Nature for All,” were reviewed by the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The Senate version of the bill was reported out favorably and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Feldman said he is hopeful that state legislators will make progress on the bill, but the coalition will continue to collect signatures and proceed with the ballot initiative.
“We believe that the Nature for All Act is an investment in our shared future — one that ensures clean water, healthy forests, thriving farms and equitable access to nature for generations to come,” Sabourin said.
To learn more about the initiative or to sign a petition, visit tinyurl.com/nature-ma.