资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has been the principal funding source to acquire federal land for conservation and recreation purposes since 1965. The four federal land management agencies—the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Forest Service—all receive money from the LWCF. Unlike many federal programs, the LWCF does not rely on taxpayer money. Instead, it is funded primarily through the revenues the federal government earns from oil and gas leases on offshore federal lands.

The LWCF also serves as a major source of funding for state and local parks and public outdoor recreation facilities. Over the past 40 years, the fund has provided over 40,000 grants to state and local governments. According to the National Park Service, the agency that runs the LWCF state grant program, a majority of the state and local funding has sponsored “close to home” recreational opportunities that are accessible to Americans from all walks of life.

This explainer provides a brief history of the LWCF and its funding, a description of how the program works, an overview of recent legislation affecting the LWCF, and an assessment of future challenges the program faces.