Rhode Island’s conservation funding from the 2022 Green Bond has been fully depleted.
Advocates are calling for an additional $10 million in the 2026 Green Bond to continue land protection efforts.
Without new funding, state conservation programs will halt for at least three years.
Conservation leaders argue that protecting open space is critical for water quality, climate resilience, and public recreation.
Rhode Island recently celebrated an important conservation milestone. On Feb. 5, the state Department of Environmental Management awarded $1.23 million to protect four critical landscapes across our state.
These investments, made possible by the 2022 Green Bond, are doing exactly what voters intended. They protect drinking water supplies, preserve working farms, connect wildlife habitat, reduce flooding and erosion, and expand public access to nature.
But there’s a serious problem: the funding is now completely gone.
There is currently no new funding allocated for the Local Open Space Grant Program – or for any conservation program – in the proposed 2026 Green Bond. Without action this legislative session, conservation work across Rhode Island will come to a halt. There will be no additional funding for at least three years – and likely longer.
Rhode Island does not have a dedicated annual funding source for land conservation in the state budget. The Green Bond is the primary way communities protect the places that make our state special.
Since 1985, the Local Open Space Grant Program has helped protect more than 13,000 acres of land. These are the farms, forests and shorelines where families hike, fish, birdwatch and camp. These conserved lands protect the natural beauty that defines Rhode Island, strengthen climate resilience, support tourism, sustain local businesses and safeguard local food production.
When we lose conservation momentum, we don’t just pause progress – we risk losing these critical lands forever.
Adding $10 million to the Green Bond would restart this essential work. The investment goes far beyond its face value. Municipalities, land trusts and nonprofit organizations rely on Green Bond funding to unlock federal and private matching grants. For every $1 Rhode Island invests, conservation partners bring in nearly $2 in additional funding. That’s a strong return for taxpayers and a powerful example of public dollars working efficiently.
Protecting open space does not compete with addressing Rhode Island’s affordable housing crisis. In fact, thoughtful conservation and smart development go hand in hand. Preserving open spaces not only enhances our physical and mental health but also contributes to the social and economic vitality of our state. Healthy communities need both housing and green space.
Our natural lands are critical infrastructure. They filter our water, absorb floodwaters, cool our neighborhoods, support agriculture and provide places for recreation. Investing in our natural infrastructure is just as essential as investing in roads, bridges and buildings.
The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. Without an infusion of $10 million into the Green Bond this General Assembly session, Rhode Island’s conservation progress will stall – putting farmland, forests and community open spaces at risk.
All Rhode Islanders deserve a safe, healthy, and affordable place to live – with clean air, clean water, access to nature and locally grown food.
We urge our elected officials to act now and make the Green Bond greener.
We thank Sen. Louis DiPalma and Rep. Megan Cotter for their leadership on this issue. Together, we can protect Rhode Island’s open spaces for generations to come and ensure our state remains a thriving place to live, work and play.
Jeffrey Hall is executive director of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Kate Sayles is executive director of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council. John Torgan is executive director of The Nature Conservancy. For more information, contact Kate Sayles at kayles@rilandtrusts.org.
