The Trust for Public Land conducted an economic analysis of the return on the State of Vermont’s investment in land conservation and found that every state dollar invested in land conservation returned $9 in natural goods and services. This study was conducted in collaboration with the Vermont Forest Partnership, a coalition that includes Audubon Vermont, The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, Vermont Land Trust, and Vermont Natural Resources Council.

State investment in land conservation also supports critical industries in Vermont that depend on the availability of high-quality protected land and water such as forestry, farming, outdoor recreation, and tourism. Conservation investments not only support jobs in these diverse industries, they also provide additional value by creating resilience from flooding and other major weather events, as well as reinforcing Vermonters’ strong sense of place and preference for the state’s rural character.