A Year of Action: What the Co-op Community Accomplished in 2021

Why it matters: Forests help capture carbon dioxide, a planet-warming greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The goal is to plant 1.2 billion trees in 10 years, which supporters say would help capture up to 75 million metric tons of carbon in a decade, essentially erasing the equivalent of 8.53 billion gallons of gasoline.

Status: Congress passed the REPLANT Act this fall as part of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure package. President Biden signed it into law in November.

How you’ve helped: About 12,000 of you sent 33,970 messages to Capitol Hill, rallying around the need to heal national forests and harness their power to combat climate change. Importantly, 2,200 of you who wrote letters added a personal touch to your message. Bill sponsors reported that your letters created a buzz in the halls of Congress and attracted additional members of Congress to support the bill. 

What you can do now: Thank your members of Congress for supporting the REPLANT Act. This shows them how much you care about the policy and pay attention to their actions. Then, take some time outside to marvel at all the benefits that trees provide.

Why it matters: The places where we love to recreate—parks, forests, grasslands, waters—can help lessen the effects of weather extremes and even bring carbon back down to earth. For instance, forests can capture carbon and urban parks can help offset the effects of heat islands. Harnessing nature to prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis is often a cost-effective strategy that also provides economic and social benefits to nearby communities.

Status: Many different pieces of legislation could support this initiative. Among them is the Build Back Better Act, which includes a framework for cutting greenhouse gas pollution by 2030 and advancing environmental justice. The House passed that bill, and now it awaits action in the Senate.

How you’ve helped: Nearly 1,700 of you have sent messages to Congress since we launched this initiative in November. Keep up the momentum.

Why it matters: Every 30 seconds, America loses a football field’s worth of natural area to development, which can harm wildlife habitat, hurt water and air quality, and make it harder for people to connect with nature. Losing natural spaces also threatens the ability of communities to adapt to weather extremes such as floods, wildfires and landslides.

Status: Many different pieces of legislation support the America the Beautiful Initiative. They include measures to protect public lands, provide landowners with conservation tools, connect youth with stewardship opportunities and more. Among them is the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act (H.R.803), a collection of bills that would protect more than 4 million acres of public lands and more than 1,000 miles of rivers. This bill has passed in the House and awaits action in the Senate.

How you’ve helped: Nearly 4,800 of you have sent more than 14,000 messages to Congress in support of America the Beautiful.

Why it matters: Voting is an important tool for addressing challenges such as climate change, threats to lands and waters, and inequitable access to the outdoors. But across the country, state and local governments have threatened the right to vote by conducting mass voter purges, closing polling places and passing laws that disproportionately prevent communities of color, Native Americans, Alaska Native communities, people with disabilities, students and other eligible voters from exercising their right to vote.

Status: The House passed the bill in August. It is awaiting action in the Senate.

How you’ve helped: The co-op community sent nearly 7,500 messages to the Senate this year in support of this bill, and nearly 9% of you included a personal note.

Why it matters: Nationwide, 100 million people—including 28 million children—do not have a park within a 10-minute walk from home. Green spaces are crucial for individual and community health and well-being, yet systemic barriers prevent many communities from reaping their benefits. The ORLP program creates more opportunities for people to access quality green space.

Status: The House passed the bill in February as part of the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act. It is awaiting action in the Senate.

How you’ve helped: To date, the co-op community has sent 6,600 messages to Congress in support of the Outdoors for All Act.

Why it matters: Nearly a century ago, a program called the Civilian Conservation Corps employed millions of workers in stewardship projects that built the national and state park systems during the Great Depression. Supporters say a similar program could be helpful today as the country seeks to combat climate change, boost its economy and help communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Status: A variety of bills and proposals comprise this initiative. Among them is the Build Back Better Act, which includes $4.28 billion to the Department of Labor over a five-year period through September 30, 2026, for employment and training activities in industry sectors or occupations related to climate resilience or mitigation. The House passed this bill, and it is awaiting action in the Senate.

How you’ve helped: More than 3,100 of you sent more than 9,100 messages to Congress championing a modern-day Conservation Corps. Hundreds of you told legislators about family members who benefited from the original CCC in the 1930s, or shared personal accounts about being environmental educators, firefighters, AmeriCorps alumni and more. Others shared what value a modern corps could bring to your state or community and how you have seen the power of the outdoors support your well-being during the pandemic.

Why it matters: Throughout the pandemic, local parks have been a saving grace for those seeking respite and renewal outside. However, financial impacts of the pandemic have hurt city and state park budgets. This decrease in funding disproportionately harms communities that lack access to green space. In the U.S., about 70% of low-income communities live in nature-deprived areas. An analysis by The Trust for Public Land revealed parks that primarily serve people of color are, on average, half the size and used by nearly five times the number of people compared to green spaces used by majority-white communities.

Status: No movement

How you’ve helped: More than 2,200 of you have sent messages to Congress.

Why it matters: Nearly half of the trips Americans take are within a 20-minute bike ride. More than one-fifth are a 20-minute walk. Connecting pedestrian and bike trails within and across communities would make it easier, safer and more efficient for people of all ages and abilities to get where they need to go without a car. If fully funded, this bill would reduce pollution and traffic, increase physical activity, enhance transportation equity for people living with disabilities and in underserved rural, suburban and urban communities, and improve equitable access to outdoor recreation and transportation.

Status: This bill was authorized as part of the infrastructure package. It will need to receive funding through the Congressional appropriations process. 

How you’ve helped: More than 3,100 people in our co-op community sent more than 9,000 messages to Congress championing more biking and walking paths.

Why it matters: Research shows that access to safe, outdoor areas can improve a child’s physical and mental health. Visiting a national park is one way to explore nature. Supporters say fully funding the Every Kid Outdoors program would help more children experience the nation’s public lands.

Status: No movement.

How you’ve helped: Nearly 1,600 of you sent more than 4,500 messages to Congress highlighting the importance of getting kids outside.