America’s most effective conservation law, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), is also one of the most threatened. The Congressional authorization for this critical national program expires on Sept. 30, and some anti-conservation members of Congress do not want to re-authorize the fund, despite LWCF’s success in saving lands in every U.S. state. If Congress fails to reauthorize the program, America will lose its single most important source of funding for protecting our national parks and wildlife refuges as well as local parks, ballfields and open spaces.

Congressional inaction would also jeopardize proposed conservation projects across the nation, including those at the 19 beloved American places on the list below.

The parks and places of historic or natural significance on this list contain pockets of privately held land within or near their boundaries. These lands are at risk for development, but the Land and Water Conservation Fund can help protect them, just as it has done for hundreds of other treasured parks, trails, open spaces and recreation areas over the past 50 years. If Congress does not save the Land and Water Conservation Fund, these projects will be at risk.

Not only that, but without permanent reauthorization of LWCF, the ability to fund projects that will preserve and connect park lands, recreation areas and open spaces will be largely lost. Below is just a small sampling of what’s at risk if Congress does not save LWCF.

1. Arizona — Pockets of private land at Saguaro National Park