Policy Priorities
Photo by Micheal Drewry
Policy Platform
In state and federal policy issues, we represent the interests of land trusts and work to advance conservation in Oregon.
Every year COLT’s board of directors develops a policy platform to guide our collective work.
Top State Policy Priorities 2022
COLT's top priority this short session is to secure $5 million in funding for the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP). OAHP was designed by agricultural and conservation groups to protect farm and ranch land, keep it in production, and enhance its natural resource value. Established in 2017, OAHP is administered by Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and is ready to implement, but it has yet to be funded.
COLT, along with a broad coalition of conservation and agriculture groups are asking you to join us in reaching out to your legislators and ask that they make a budget request of $5M for OAHP.
Top State Policy Priorities 2020
With our coalition, we're actively working to secure dedicated funding in 2020. Oregon’s farm and ranch lands provide an economic and cultural cornerstone for the state. They also support critical habitat for fish and wildlife. In 2017, the legislature passed the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program to provide a suite of grants to support the conservation of farm and ranch lands. Now funding is needed to implement the program and leverage the federal Agricultural Conservation Easement Program authorized and funded in the 2018 Farm Bill. Learn more about OAHP
Other State Priorities We Support 2020
We support the state's 100-year Water Vision and the role natural lands play in keeping water clean for people and wildlife. We urge the legislature to set aside the necessary resources to support the state’s water needs assessment, analysis and prioritization process in the next biennium.
Federal policy priorities 2020
News Policy Priorities
What the Inflation Reduction Act means for land trusts
Press release—Oregon working lands receive historic investment
Press release—Legislature approves $5 million to save Oregon farms
Our priorities for the 2022 legislative session
Oregon LWCF celebration Aug 20th
Press release—Congress passes landmark bill to fund LWCF
Press release—US Senate Passes Landmark Conservation Bill
Press release—Governor Brown visits local land trust
A look back on Oregon’s 2019 legislative session
Recreation—end of session 2019, update on Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund
Cap and Invest—end of 2019 session and what you can do
OAHP—End of 2019 session, we need your help
