This commentary is by Shelby Semmes, of Warren, and Drew McConville, of Montpelier. Semmes is the vice president for the New England Region at the Trust for Public Land. McConville is a senior fellow for conservative policy at the Center for American Progress.
In the shade of towering pines, a dozen Vermonters laughed, chatted and occasionally stood in silent awe as they toured the newest public lands expansion in the Green Mountains in the spring.
Some came as interested neighbors, some as committed supporters and others — like the two of us — attended as hosts, interpreters and advocates for the important work of protecting America’s parks and forests. Surrounded by people immersed in the wonders of ancient trees and boosted by the adrenaline of a speedy hike, conservation work can feel effortless.
But in the face of strong headwinds from the White House and Congress, there’s little easy about it today.
The longstanding reality is that Americans love their public lands. Yet, right now, these treasured places are under threat. Drastic policy proposals and budget cuts mark a troubling departure from our nation’s bipartisan commitment to protecting the lands we share. This comes at a time when climate change impacts are accelerating, biodiversity is declining and too many children lack safe, easy access to nature.
Here in Vermont, we know access to nature is more than a nicety. We have a responsibility to speak out and make progress from the ground up.
Earlier this summer, Congress nearly sold off millions of acres of national forests and other public lands through the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. The Senate version of the bill made more than 250 million acres of public lands eligible for mandated land sales — including popular trails, cultural sites and vital wildlife habitat. Only massive public outcry forced lawmakers to back down.
In the meantime, the Trump administration has fired thousands of park staff, foresters, rangers and land managers while proposing a budget that would cut $4 billion from public lands and hand off smaller national park units for states to manage.
They have also proposed cuts to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which would be especially damaging to Vermont. This successful bipartisan program has helped protect significant sections of the Green Mountain National Forest, the Green River Reservoir State Park, and countless local parks and trails like those at the Catamount Community Forest.
These actions are clearly out of step with Americans’ overwhelming support for conservation. A national survey this year found that the vast majority of Americans — Republicans and Democrats alike — oppose selling or shuttering public lands. In fact, they vote consistently to fund conservation initiatives when given the chance, like in 2024, when ballot measures passed in 11 states, generating more than $16 billion in land conservation funds.
This is especially true in Vermont and across the New England region. From the northern tip of Lake Champlain to Long Island Sound, our natural lands are the backbone of our regional identity and economy. These lands filter our drinking water, clean our air and buffer our towns from increasingly dangerous storms and floods. They fuel an outdoor recreation economy that generates $30 billion annually across New England while also supporting our physical and mental well-being.
But these benefits are not guaranteed. If current trends continue, New England could lose 1.2 million acres of forests and farmland over the next four decades. While many enjoy easy access to nature, those benefits are not equitably distributed — particularly across racial and economic lines.
Meeting this moment means speaking out against the bad ideas flowing from Washington. But it also requires proactive steps from states, communities and individuals working together to build on the strong ideas and leadership already emerging across our region.
In Vermont, state leaders have committed to conserve 30% of the state’s lands by 2030, and communities are leaning toward the goal. Recent expansions to the Green Mountain National Forest — like the 500-acre woods we walked near Wallingford in spring — are raising the tally.
So are new community forests, like the 735-acre shared backyard of the Wolcott Community Forest, which strengthens the town’s natural defenses against floods, delivers outdoor access near the town center and offers destination-worthy trails for economic development. But to meet our conservation targets on schedule, Vermont will need creative funding and financing streams, and an approach that improves daily living for Vermonters while meeting ecological and climate goals.
Across New England, similar momentum is building — but it also needs support.
Stretching across state lines, the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership is bringing together governmental and non-governmental partners to protect a landscape that delivers drinking water for nearly 5 million people. Meanwhile, our neighbors in Massachusetts are exploring a Nature for All Fund, which could dedicate a portion of an existing tax on sporting goods to parks and conservation — a funding approach at work in both Texas and Georgia.
As the first leaves of autumn turn, people will return to the forests, trails and mountaintops they treasure. These natural havens support public health and happiness, boost businesses, and strengthen climate defenses for communities large and small.
Whether it’s a town forest in the Northeast Kingdom or a remote stretch of woods in southern Vermont, these places share something in common. They’re available to everyone because, at some point, people worked to protect them.
Now, in this challenging moment, it’s up to us all to carry that legacy forward with our voices and actions.
