Written by Heather Jeffs, The Nature Conservancy’s director of external affairs in Kentucky.
Legislators from across Kentucky have now concluded their work in Frankfort for this year’s legislative session. Over the past 60 legislative days, they have debated a long list of complex issues impacting the daily lives of Kentuckians, the most significant of which was passing Kentucky’s two-year state budget.
Where lawmakers decide to invest your tax dollars reflects their priorities and vision for the future of the commonwealth. There is certainly no lack of worthwhile options — education, health care and infrastructure, just to name a few. It is never easy to decide where we allocate our limited resources, particularly in tight budget years like this one.
One bright spot in Kentucky’s just-passed budget is the tripling of the General Assembly’s investment in the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund (KHLCF). The Nature Conservancy commends our elected leaders for this visionary leadership and deeply appreciates another meaningful investment in our state’s natural legacy, one which will pay dividends for generations to come.
Kentucky is rich with traditions rooted in its lands, waters and wildlife. These natural assets drive the economy, support signature industries like agriculture, forestry and bourbon, provide outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and tourists, and boost public safety by reducing risks from flooding. Every aspect of our lives is better thanks to nature, and our economy and quality of life are heavily dependent on and deeply connected to our lands and waters.
Since 1990, Kentucky has protected more than 95,000 acres across 70 counties through the Heritage Land Conservation program. However, its funding, which traditionally comes from the sale of nature license plates, a portion of the unmined minerals tax on coal and environmental fines, has simply not kept pace with growing pressures on our precious natural resources.
The Kentucky General Assembly generously provided an appropriation of $2 million for KHLCF in 2024 and increased this to $6 million in 2026. We are grateful for these strategic investments, and that our legislators can seize the opportunity to continue building on them in future legislative sessions. Many of our neighboring states in the Southeast continue to outpace Kentucky and provide models for how we can exercise fiscal discipline while still making bigger and more consistent investments in conservation.
One way to do this would be to pass a version of House Bill 723, introduced earlier this year by state Rep. Mitch Whitaker. This legislation would have dedicated a portion of the existing sales tax on sporting goods like hunting and fishing equipment to fund conservation efforts. In Georgia, where this funding mechanism was implemented after 83% of voters approved it in 2018, more than $400 million has gone to conservation projects across the state, thanks to combined revenues from the state and matching grants.
All without raising taxes by a single cent.
We know that nature is an essential investment, and a prudent one, even in economically uncertain times. A recently released report,Nature’s Dividends: The Economic, Health and Safety Benefits of Investing in Nature, commissioned by The Nature Conservancy, compiles research from nearly 1,500 studies and articles demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of conservation. Among other compelling findings is a 4:1 national average return on investment for conservation funding.
The fact that conservation funding was not only included but increased in this state budget speaks to lawmakers’ recognition of the important conservation work happening across Kentucky and the multitude of benefits it provides.
Given the billions of dollars in economic returns and the priceless cultural, recreational and health benefits provided by our forests, fields, river, and mountains, we owe it to our children and grandchildren to continue giving back to nature in Kentucky, so that our lands, waters and wildlife are not just a part of our legacy, but a pillar of our future.