Fall is the perfect time to be reminded why we choose to live in towns with more cows than people. In communities where when we pull over on the side of the road, our neighbors stop to make sure we are OK. We live here because watching the maple leaves turn red on the shores of the local pond, or experiencing the crisp bite of a fall apple plucked from the backyard tree is not only a delight, it is food for our souls.

This November, when we go to vote, we have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect our local farms, forests, and wetlands and preserve our rural lifestyle for our children and their children’s children — by voting “yes” on Question 6: the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative.

As avid hunters and anglers we care about passing our outdoor heritage to future generations. That’s why we are supporting Question 6 on the ballot this fall.

Voting “yes” on 6 will create a dedicated Nature for All fund to help pay for the permanent conservation of our amazing fields and forests, protect the water in our lakes, rivers, and wells, and preserve the family farms and wildlife habitat that define our rural parts of the state. Question 6 is not a new tax, and it doesn’t raise any costs for consumers or businesses. It would simply allocate a portion of the existing sales tax on outdoor equipment like binoculars, kayaks, and camping gear towards funding conservation.

Question 6 would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund, with strict annual reporting requirements to track every dollar spent. It’s endorsed by more than 115 organizations all across the state, including nonprofit land and water conservation groups, local land trusts, businesses, and outdoor recreation groups.

We are in a particular time when thousands of acres of land in Massachusetts are being transferred from one generation to the next. If these natural places aren’t conserved now, we risk losing them forever. This is a critical moment when we have a chance to help protect our way of life, the views and wildlife we love, and the peace and tranquility that we depend upon.

When we don’t conserve our farms and forestland, we know what happens. More and more, we are losing access to our favorite hunting and fishing spots, losing our local farms, and losing the reasons why we live where we do. As we lose an alarming amount of land every year to development, now is the time to provide dedicated funds to protect lands for future generations.

Please vote “yes” on 6! It’s not an additional tax, and it will generate millions to acquire open space, protect biodiversity, and support wildlife habitat. It’s a simple way to tell our state’s decision-makers to make nature a priority. Let’s spend our state dollars where it counts: protecting our fields, forests, and water.

Bob Durand is a former Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs and MassWildlife Board Member. Emma Ellsworth is Executive Director of the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. Both authors are avid hunters and anglers.