Fifty-three years ago, the U.S. Congress authorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which uses revenue from offshore oil and gas leases to protect national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other open spaces. Regrettably, this vitally important conservation tool will expire unless the Congress reauthorizes it by Sept. 30.

Though most people have likely never heard of the LWCF, this important fund has invested more than $229 million in Hawaii. The LWCF has protected places like Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakala National Parks, James Campbell and Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuges, Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and Kilauea Point and Hanalei National Wildlife Refuges.

LWCF matching grants have leveraged non-federal investments across the islands for county and state park improvements, and for conservation easements that permanently protect natural areas from degradation or other negative impacts.

Protecting America’s lands and waters wasn’t always a partisan issue, and it doesn’t have to be now. Investing in nature is a nonpartisan solution to help the environment while also improving the economy, public health and well-being. A balanced approach can protect natural areas for future generations while we continue on a path of sustainable growth and responsible development.

The LWCF is one of the most effective tools available to help us do this, but it is about to expire. If the Congress takes no action, it will go away on Sept. 30, leaving significant funding gaps at county, state and federal levels that likely won’t be filled for years to come.

The beauty of the LWCF lies in the program’s funding source. It’s entirely funded by revenue from offshore oil and gas leases with the goal of balancing resource extraction with protecting important land and water resources. Taxpayers feel no burden.

There are stalwart supporters on both sides of the aisle in Congress committed to seeing the LWCF fully funded. Our current and past Hawaii congressional delegation members have been consistent champions for LWCF and Hawaii’s natural resources. However, the LWCF is getting caught up in procedural and political maneuvering on Capitol Hill unrelated to the merits of this critical conservation program.

The wild and scenic spaces that surround us in Hawaii are an important part of our culture, heritage and identity. They reflect our history, our character, and our way of life. We need LWCF in Hawaii and around the U.S. to continue protecting the essential lands and waters upon which all life depends.

We are fortunate that Hawaii’s representatives in Washington, D.C., support LWCF, but they still value your input and need to hear your support. If you care about the spaces afforded by the LWCF, make your voice heard and contact your congressional delegation to ask them to continue to press their colleagues in the Congress to reauthorize this essential legislation.

Ulalia Woodside is executive director of The Nature Conservancy’s Hawaii and Palmyra Atoll Program; Brett MacNaughton is a trustee of the program as well as director of development/design for The MacNaughton Group.