Nature Conservancy celebrates environmental funding wins

The 2025 Legislative Session for Delaware’s General Assembly ended June 30, with a wave of major environmental wins, according to The Nature Conservancy.

While this year’s session began with uncertain prospects, the organization said it ended on a high note with strong bipartisan support that will protect Delaware’s natural resources and communities for years to come.

Key victories that The Nature Conservancy applauds include: $10 million for Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control open space funding to protect Delaware’s land, wildlife and water for future generations; $6.4 million for cover crop funding to improve soil health, strengthen agricultural resilience and reduce pollution from runoff; $3 million for brownfields funding to restore contaminated sites and return neglected lands to productive community use; modernization of DNREC licensing fees and pollution fines through House Bills 175 and 210 to ensure fair, effective permitting and provide stronger enforcement tools with a focus on impacted communities; and passage of Senate Bill 159 to advance a statewide approach to clean energy, an important step toward statewide clean energy access.

“These wins didn’t come easy, but they came because people stayed at the table,” said Emily Knearl, director of government relations for The Nature Conservancy in Delaware. “We are especially grateful to the General Assembly, Gov. Meyer and DNREC leadership for listening, engaging and delivering for the environment and for Delawareans, and to all the partners who worked together to get this done.”

Earlier this year, TNC released two reports designed to help inform policy discussions — the Delaware Bayshore Coastal Resilience Roadmap, a comprehensive guide to a healthy future for the Delaware Bayshore; and the Delaware Conservation Blueprint, a map analysis of the state’s protected lands, conservation opportunity areas, urban areas, farmland and areas facing projected sea level rise in the next 25 years, to serve as an actionable guide for future conservation strategies and funding.

For more information, visit nature.org/delaware.