Question 6 Ballot Initiative to Protect Water & Nature Passes Overwhelmingly

Mass Audubon, the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England, announces that Question 6 – the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative seeking to establish a new Nature for All Fund that will bring as much as $100 million annually for regional water and land conservation – was overwhelmingly approved by voters.

“The results of Question 6 confirm what we already knew: that protecting the outdoors has broad appeal,” said David O’Neill, President & CEO of Mass Audubon. “This is an historic night for the nature of Massachusetts, and we’re grateful to our 130 partner organizations, supporters, volunteers, and the voters. We’ll take this time to celebrate but then we’ll get back to work ensuring that this dedicated source of funding goes to protecting our parks, forests, wildlife, family farms, and drinking water for generations to come.”

The measure passed in the vast majority of suburban, urban, and rural communities and garnered more than 60 percent approval statewide. With that mandate from the voters, Question 6 will dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protect and conserve water and nature without raising any new taxes, to the tune of up to $100 million a year. The ballot initiative allocates just 0.16 percent of the state’s current $63.4 billion annual budget, which will come from the existing sales tax on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and fishing equipment.

Those funds are necessary to protect the quality of our drinking water, our natural wildlife habitats, and support the creation of parks, trails, greenspaces, and other outdoor recreation. Question 6 also calls for the establishment of a public oversight board that will approve all expenditures and adhere to strict annual reporting requirements to track every dollar spent.

Question 6 was supported by a diverse coalition of more than 130 environmental, conservation, and community organizations and businesses throughout Massachusetts, including the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups such as The Trustees, Appalachian Mountain Club, the Conservation Law Foundation, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land, as well as dozens of local and regional groups from every corner of the state. It was also endorsed by Gov. Maura Healey.

“What a victory for our forests, farms, parks, and drinking water. What a stunning example of how powerful collaboration can be. And what a result protecting the nature of Massachusetts,” O’Neill said. “Thank you to everyone who made this historic night happen. Now we go right back to work to secure this win and these resources in perpetuity.”