Nature for
Massachusetts
Photo Courtesy of Mass Audubon
Massachusetts must be a leader on climate change, the conservation of nature, and the protection of wildlife: not only to reach the state’s desired climate goals, but to ensure a sustainable, safer future for all.
The time to act is now.
Advocating for an Equitable, Sustainable Commonwealth
Massachusetts is facing the triple-threat from climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the fact that the benefits of nature are not accessible to all of our residents. Massachusetts lacks a significant statewide funding mechanism for nature conservation, and existing state-level programs are underfunded and oversubscribed. As a result, Massachusetts lacks sustainable and reliable resources to meet the Commonwealth’s goals of 1) protecting, managing, and restoring nature in order to reach net zero by 2050 and 2) protecting 30% of the state by 2030 and 40% by 2050.
About Our Coalition
Nature for Massachusetts is a large and diverse coalition of environmental, conservation, and community organizations and national corporations that seek to create a dedicated, annual revenue stream to conserve water, land, urban greenspace, outdoor recreation access, and wildlife in Massachusetts.
We’re urging the State Legislature to pass the Nature for All bill (H.901/S.2571) to help address the threats we face. The idea is simple: set aside revenue from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to raise $100 million every year for protecting and conserving water and nature—without raising taxes.
It’s time to invest in our future—clean water, healthy forests, more trails and parks, and access to the outdoors and nature for everyone.
About the Protect Water and Nature Initiative
At the same time, a wide coalition of organizations are also pursuing the Protect Water and Nature Initiative as a question on the November 2026 ballot. If lawmakers don’t act, we’re ready to bring this issue directly to voters through a 2026 ballot question.
Our goals are simple: set aside revenue from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to raise $100 million every year for protecting and conserving water and nature—without raising taxes. It’s time to invest in our future—clean water, healthy forests, more trails and parks, and access to the outdoors and nature for everyone.
Reach out to the ballot committee by emailing voteyesforwaterandnature@gmail.com, and sign up for a signature collection training today.
The growing group of organizations supporting the Protect Water and Nature Ballot Initiative include the following. Members of the ballot steering committee are marked with an asterisk *
American Rivers
Appalachian Mountain Club *
Association to Preserve Cape Cod
Authentic Caribbean Foundation
Bemis
Berkshire Environmental Action Team
Berkshire Natural Resources Council
Boston Harbor Now
Brookline GreenSpace Alliance *
Charles River Conservancy
Charles River Watershed Association
Concord Climate Action Network (ConcordCAN)
Conservation Law Foundation
Franklin Land Trust
GreenRoots
Hale Education, Inc
Ipswich River Watershed Association
Kestrel Land Trust
Land / Water Associates
League of Women Voters Concord Carlisle
Mass Audubon *
Mass Parks for All
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
Massachusetts Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals
Massachusetts Rivers Alliance *
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust *
Mystic River Watershed Association
Native Plant Trust
New England Mountain Bike Association
Norcross Wildlife Foundation
North County Land Trust
Quincy Climate Action Network (QCAN)
Regional Environmental Council (REC)
Studio Shangri-La Multimedia
Sudbury Valley Trustees
Sustainable Marblehead
The Trustees *
Trust for Public Land *
Waypoint Adventure
Wild Cohasset
Wildlands Trust