Middleboro Review and so on

      Organizations from across Massachusetts are coming together to advocate for a dedicated funding source, the Protect Water and Nature Fund, to conserve land, create parks and trails, and advance climate resilience, stormwater management with more vegetation and soils, less heat islands, and environmental justice. The Protect Water and Nature fund would be supported by the existing sales tax on sporting goods, not a new tax, and would generate an estimated $100 million annually for conservation without raising taxes. The fund requires passage of supporting legislation and a ballot initiative to become a reality. It will promote environmental justice by addressing inequities in access to clean water and pollution, support the conservation and restoration of lands with Indigenous cultural importance, include memberships held by underserved communities on the Oversight Board, and target underserved areas for investment. The Protect Water and Nature bill aims to promote f...