Getting the Most Bang for your Tree(…or clam or scallop or mussel…):

Integrating Restoration and Policy Agendas to Affect Environmental Change

Stephanie Reynolds and Bill GoldsboroughChesapeake Bay Foundation

Presented by: Tommy LeggettChesapeake Bay Foundation

Oyster Planting Event

•CBF’s Oyster Restoration Center

•Speaker Busch (MD state) interested

•One morning on board for an oyster planting

•CBF followed up with specific requests for Chesapeake oyster restoration: “Oyster Solutions”

•Bills passed the following session:

•$250,000 for artificial reef construction

•$9 m for expanded hatchery production

•Creation of the Oyster Advisory Commission (OAC)

•Increased enforcement (poaching)

Maryland Dairy Farm project

•Stream bank fencing/ tree planting project in Congressman Bartlett’s (R-MD) district

•80 volunteers

•30 volunteers sent the letters urging him to support Chesapeake Bay $$$ inFarm Bill

•Bartlett signed on as a co-sponsor*

*CHESSEA marker Bill: Chesapeake’s Healthy and Environmentally Sound

Stewardship of Energy and Agriculture Act of 2007

West Virginia Project

•CBF does one project in WVa/ year (minor partner)

•Legislative agenda: Get $$$ in the Federal Farm bill for the Chesapeake

•Sen. Rockefeller (D-Wva) asked for 3 letters of support;

•CBF worked with restoration partners in WVa to get 9 letters

•Rockefeller signed on as a co-sponsor

West Virginia Project

Successful Formula:

Restoration partners+

clear policy agenda+

asking partners to act on that agenda

Policy agenda without hands-on restoration events =

No capital, but a need to spend it

Hands-on restoration events with no policy agenda =

Lots of capital, but no way to spend it

Restoration Events + Policy Agenda