Trust for Public Land has released a new report highlighting how land conservation is a critical strategy that can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, the very driver of climate change, while improving community resilience to climate-driven hazards. The “The Power of Land Conservation to Address the Climate Crisis” report emphasizes how natural lands, particularly forested areas, allow trees, plants, and soils to act as carbon reservoirs – reducing the release of greenhouse gases and capturing greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere. This research also supports community resilience to climate change, improving water and air quality, protecting essential water supplies that communities depend on, and preserving biodiversity.
“Nature is one of our best allies in combating the climate crisis, and land conservation is a powerful tool in our climate action toolkit,” said Brendan Shane, climate director at Trust for Public Land. “This report shows the transformative role that protected natural spaces play in the face of climate change and acts as a call to action to ensure conservation advocates are at the forefront of climate action.”
Land conservation is paramount in the fight against climate change, especially given the limitations of time and resources. The “The Power of Land Conservation to Address the Climate Crisis” report reviews the latest research and evidence demonstrating the role of protected natural lands in creating healthy, resilient communities now and for future generations. While the benefits of land conservation are often interconnected, this paper focuses on five distinct benefit areas: carbon storage, water, air, biodiversity, and health. It acts as a playbook for conservation advocates to tackle the climate crisis through meaningful engagement, increased funding and policy innovation that can build more healthy, equitable, and resilient communities nationwide.
“The report elevates land conservation to its rightful place as a critical climate solution and calls the entire conservation community to action,” said Abigail Weinberg, Senior Director of Conservation Science & Planning at the Open Space Institute. “With new data and tools, we have what we need. The time to act is now.”
Backed by groundbreaking research, this new report serves as a toolkit for landowners, agencies, NGOs, and municipalities to safeguard green spaces and deliver innovative solutions that tackle our most pressing challenges.
The full report is available for download here.