The single new initiative Gov. Mitch Daniels introduced during his last State of the State address – an effort to expand protections of Indiana’s natural areas – is something that deserves universal support and admiration from state lawmakers and citizens.

“Our coming bicentennial gives us an ideal opportunity to extend this historic era of reverence for the beauty God bestowed on Indiana,” Daniels said when he announced creation of the Bicentennial Nature Trust.

Daniels dedicated $20 million in state dollars from three state agencies to the trust. He also appointed a citizens commission led by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and former congressman Lee Hamilton to oversee the state’s 2016 bicentennial celebrations, including the nature trust initiative.

The nature trust project will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the creation of the state park system. “A statewide conservation initiative is a fitting sequel and bequest from our second century to our third,” Daniels said.

The $20 million is just a starting point. The goal is for the trust to provide seed money and encourage other individuals and groups to match the trust money with donations of land or money.

He said, “The commission joins me in challenging citizens, businesses and, in particular, our unique network of county community foundations to identify and fund local projects that will safeguard places of beauty for future generations.”

Local agencies that have long worked to buy land for nature preserves should benefit from the effort.

“I was glad to hear, too, that $20 million was just a start,” said Jason Kissel, executive director of ACRES Land Trust. “It sounds like a lot, but when you’re talking about land purchases, it takes a lot of money.”

On average, natural land with recreational value costs from $4,000 to $5,000 per acre.

In making his announcement, Daniels touted that the state has set new records in land preservation over the last seven years, specifically mentioning the Goose Pond project along the Wabash River.

But Indiana has one of the worst reputations for safeguarding the environment and preserving natural resources. Indiana is always among the lowest-scoring states for land preservation, according to the National Land Trust Alliance.

Kissel said the governor is correct that Indiana’s land preservation record is improving. “It’s just that we have so far to go to catch up,” he said.

According to the 2010 National Land Trust Census Report, “The Midwest region saw the greatest growth by percentage in acres conserved, with an 82 percent increase between 2005 and 2010.”

Kissel hopes the money from the new trust will be managed similarly to the Indiana Heritage Trust. That money, which comes from people who purchase Heritage Trust license plates, is a competitive grant program, ensuring the money goes only to the best projects.

The Heritage Trust has been a significant source of revenue for ACRES since Heritage Trust license plates were established in 1992. But a lot of other special-interest license plates have been created since that time – for example, a Colts license plate – reducing the proceeds from the license plates. The Bicentennial Trust will add a new source of needed funding.

“It’s good recognition by the state that they need to spur what’s being done by the private organizations,” Kissel said.

Land preservation is important to the state to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the state’s natural beauty. It is also key to current economic development efforts.