Bill Overview
Title: Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021
Description: This bill extends through FY2028 the Highlands Conservation Act, which provides for land conservation in Highlands states (i.e., Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania). The bill authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service to add a municipality to the Highlands region upon the request of a Highlands state. The bill revises the way in which land is identified for conservation to require using the best available science and geographic information systems. The bill allows political subdivisions of states to enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior for land conservation projects. A Highland state that receives funds for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5% of the funds to administer that project. The bill extends through FY2028 Forest Service and other Department of Agriculture programs to conserve land and natural resources in the Highlands region.
Sponsors: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Target Audience
Population: People residing in or near the Highlands region of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The Highlands Conservation Act targets the Highlands region, which includes portions of four states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
- This area includes numerous municipalities and communities within these states that are part of the larger environmental and conservation landscapes.
- The legislation impacts land conservation, suggesting its primary effects will be on those living within or near these conservation areas, potentially including urban, suburban, and rural populations.
- Conservation efforts can affect local economies, recreational activities, and community planning, impacting both local residents and visitors to these areas.
- The outdoor enthusiast community, including hikers, campers, and nature lovers, will also be affected by the conservation activities supported by this bill.
Reasoning
- The Highlands Conservation Act is specifically impactful for residents in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. However, not everyone will be equally affected by this policy.
- The conservation efforts focus on preserving natural areas, which can benefit local communities through improved air quality, increased recreational spaces, and potential boosts to local tourism.
- Some residents might not notice significant changes in their daily lives unless they are directly involved in activities like hiking or work in sectors related to tourism or land management.
- Rural communities might see more direct impacts due to changes in land use policy, while urban suburbs nearby might be affected through enhanced property values or changes in local recreation opportunities.
- The policy has a limited budget which means not all proposed conservation efforts may be fully realized, impacting the extent of benefits seen by residents.
- It is important to assess both short-term impacts (like new projects and developments) and long-term benefits (such as sustained environmental integrity and tourism growth).
Simulated Interviews
Elementary school teacher (Small rural town, Pennsylvania)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this act will improve our local trails and make our town a more attractive place for hiking enthusiasts.
- It could provide opportunities for students to learn more about the environment in a hands-on way.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
IT professional (Urban suburb, New Jersey)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it will be nice to have better-maintained parks locally.
- Not sure how much this matters when I'm spending most of my time commuting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired farmer (Rural, Upstate New York)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Preserving our lands is important, but I hope it doesn't affect my land rights.
- Could influence my property's value depending on how it's managed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Graduate student (New York City, New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an exciting development for environmental science and provides great research opportunities.
- I'm concerned about implementation efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Small business owner of a local café (Town near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Conserving natural areas should increase tourist activity throughout the year, which could be great for my café.
- Hope they consider how construction might affect local traffic and my supply deliveries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Environmental consultant (Hartford, Connecticut)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy strengthens my field by encouraging better science-backed conservation efforts.
- It bodes well for my consulting business as more projects may arise from it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
High school principal (Suburban, Connecticut)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The act could provide substantial educational opportunities and outdoor classrooms for our students.
- We aim to collaborate on local conservation projects and enrich our environmental studies program.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
College student (Rural, New Jersey)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Looking forward to new conservation projects which would help in getting practical experience and maybe a job post-graduation.
- Hope they prioritize areas that have been neglected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
State park ranger (Albany, New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Excited about increased funding for better maintenance and management of conservation areas.
- This will directly benefit my work in improving park services and visitor experiences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Freelance photographer (Rural, Connecticut)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Conservation means more pristine areas to capture and greater demand for nature photography.
- Hoping for balanced access so it doesn't become too commercialized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill encourages conservation efforts using advanced technologies, which may require additional initial funding but offer potential efficiencies.
- The inclusion of municipalities in the Highlands region broadens the scope, potentially increasing costs slightly due to more diversified activities.
- Most funding goes directly to conservation efforts, limiting administrative costs to 5%, focusing resources effectively.
- Long-term benefits of conservation could include ecosystem services, increased property values, and enhanced regional tourism.
- Increased collaboration between federal and state entities in land conservation could bolster more comprehensive approaches to environmental sustainability.