Commentary: Making a case for increased open-space funding

Without state conservation investments over the years, we would not have what we know now as the boundaries of the White Clay Creek, Killens Pond or Cape Henlopen state parks, to name just a few. Open-space programs are vital to Delaware.”

Open space and conserved land are a precious thing in Delaware, and the clock is ticking on our ability to protect our natural world.

Conserved open spaces contribute to fighting climate change, preserving our rich natural heritage, helping our economy and offering mental and physical health benefits. To celebrate land conservation and seek an increase in state open-space funding investments, the Delaware Land Protection Coalition will be hosting the first-ever Conservation Day in Legislative Hall on May 11, 2022.

The Delaware Land Protection Coalition (DLPC) is a group of conservation-focused organizations committed to increasing the amount of lands protected, including natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources. As a coalition, we seek to expand land conservation by identifying expanded sources of funding for land conservation, increasing our partnership with the state, collaborating with each other and furthering the work of each of our respective organizations.

The Open Space Program (OSP) is managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and guided by the Open Space Council. The OSP was created in 1990 by the Delaware Land Protection Act. It identifies areas of high ecological or cultural value to be conserved, either through land acquisition or protection through conservation easement. Under the law, the state is instructed to allocate $10 million a year to the DNREC open-space program, but the actual amount appropriated varies. Since 2007, an average of $7.5 million has been allocated, and some years there were no allocations at all. In state fiscal year (FY) 2022, $10 million was allocated, and another $10 million is proposed for state FY 2023. But these investments are not nearly enough, as land values continue to rise. At current prices, these funds might only purchase two to three properties a year; in some cases, the funding could easily be spent on one property alone.

The DLPC is seeking an increase of $15 million in the annual state bond bill for a total of $25 million to DNREC for open-space investments. The state currently has a surplus of hundreds of millions for the next fiscal year, and our request is to invest what is a tiny amount of that figure in land conservation. The benefits to preserving open space are many:

• Helps to address climate change by capturing carbon through forest conservation and alleviating flooding caused by increased rainfall and storms. In the U.S., forests capture and store almost 15% of the carbon dioxide emissions every year — equivalent to annual emissions of 165 million cars. And for every $1 invested in land protection, there is a $5 return in reduced flooding impacts. Preserving open space was also suggested as one of many remedies to address climate change in the recent DNREC Climate Action Plan.
• Provides enormous economic benefits for a state known as an outdoor recreation and retirement destination. Delaware’s tourism industry contributes $3.5 billion to the economy, and much of that industry is linked to outdoor experiences. Delaware has also become a retirement destination of choice for out-of-state retirees, and while our low taxes are an important factor, the quality of life and easy access to natural resources is another important driver to attract and retain this important tax base for the state.
• Protects water quality by offering natural filtration systems and reducing contamination caused by stormwater runoff.
• Supports mental and physical health. Research has connected green spaces and outdoor recreation to a variety of health benefits, including greater relaxation and physical activities opportunities. The value of open space is also a critical component of the state’s public health infrastructure, which was crystalized by the 72% increase in state park visitation realized during the first year of the pandemic. The brain and body need the outdoors to thrive.

Without state conservation investments over the years, we would not have what we know now as the boundaries of the White Clay Creek, Killens Pond or Cape Henlopen state parks, to name just a few. Open-space programs are vital to Delaware, and we need to increase the total state investment to $25 million in the upcoming bond bill. Time is running out to conserve more land, as property values rise and development pressures increase. We must act now to preserve more natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources before it is too late.

Emily Knearl is the Delaware external affairs adviser for The Nature Conservancy. Michelle Schmidt is director of watershed programs for the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. Delaware Land Protection Coalition members include the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, Delaware Wild Lands, The Nature Conservancy, the Kent County Conservancy, the League of Women Voters of Delaware, Ducks Unlimited, the Delaware Nature Society, the Sussex County Land Trust, Preservation Delaware, the Delaware Native Species Commission, Sussex 2030, the Land Trust Alliance and representatives from New Castle and Kent counties.