PORT focuses its policy work on the following:
FARM BILL
With the 2024 Farm Bill in deliberation in Congress, PORT advocates for voluntary conservation programs, especially with the future of agriculture facing an unprecedented range of serious challenges. In July 2024, PORT was one of 500 organizations and companies representing a diverse set of Farm Bill stakeholders to send a letter to congressional leaders urging passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill before the end of the year.
During the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations, PORT played a significant role in advocating for and helping to secure a significant increase in funding — $2 billion over 10 years — for voluntary, working lands conservation.
These Farm Bill programs, including the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, represent the largest federal funding source for private land conservation and create significant opportunities for farm and ranch families to conserve high-priority working landscapes, open spaces, wildlife habitat, and water resources.
LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND
Revise the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to allow for third parties to hold easements
funded through LWCF.
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
Alternative Valuation Methods for conservation easements.
EMERGING MARKETS
Development of emerging markets around carbon, species, and water.