Conservation Viewpoint:
Consider Conservation on November 7th.
Source: Pheasants Forever
Published: Sep. 26, 2006
Consider conservation this election year. My message is that simple. This autumn, as you shoot your final practice rounds of trap, purchase that new hunting vest and ask your loyal pup if she’s ready to “find the birds,” I ask you to add one final “to do” to your checklist.
Consider conservation issues when voting for state and federal candidates. Being a knowledgeable conservation voter in this election season is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to have an influence on future hunting opportunities and successes.
At Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever, we are extremely proud of the 20,000 habitat projects our 700 chapters complete each year. In fact, our organization has worked on over 4 million acres of land since our inception in 1982.
However, just as important as those habitat projects on the ground is our 115,000 members’ voices being heard in Washington, D.C. There are 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 100 senators and one president.
In just one conservation program, those 536 individuals control the future of 39.2 million Conservation Reserve Program acres with the stroke of a pen. That’s just one program! Thankfully, America’s democracy gives all conservationists the power to influence those 536 individuals with our votes.
This year, your vote is increasingly important as budget deficits, urban sprawl and anti-hunters all take aim at conservation programs. The following are a few of the upcoming issues that this year’s elected officials will be deciding on during their term in office.
Consider these issues’ impact on wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. Then vote for the appropriate candidate.
The 2007 Farm Bill: The members of Congress elected this fall will construct the new Federal Farm Bill in 2007. Every bird hunter, no matter your favorite species, will enjoy the benefits if there is a strong conservation title in the Farm Bill.
Sadly, every hunter will suffer from a weakened one. One of the Farm Bill components most important to bird hunters is the reauthorization and expansion of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Since CRP’s inception in 1985, no federal program has had a more dramatic influence on increasing wildlife populations and protecting our natural resources.
In fact, CRP is responsible for doubling and tripling pheasant populations in a variety of regions across the U.S. pheasant range. The same program is also creating hope for the recovery of a U.S. quail population that has dropped by as much as 80 percent since 1980.
In total, the conservation component of the 2007 Farm Bill will address land management decisions on hundreds of millions of acres of farmland, wetlands, forests, prairies, grasslands, rangelands and riparian areas.
Every game bird species will be influenced by the decisions made in the 2007 Farm Bill.
Open Fields: Officially titled the “Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Act of 2005,” Open Fields would make millions of acres of private land and water accessible to sportsmen and women. It also contains habitat improvement incentives for the owners of that land. The legislation would fund state grants to pay incentives to landowners in exchange for opening up private lands to public hunting.
Wetlands Loan Act: The Act would advance $400 million in Duck Stamp sale revenue to buy wetlands at today’s prices. The cost of land is not going down, so we need to protect lands critical for wildlife at today’s value, not tomorrow’s. The loan would be repaid with Duck Stamp revenue through 2015. Don’t be fooled. Although this is targeted at wetlands, it’s not just a duck program. Pheasants, grouse, deer and turkeys also use these wetland acres and federally-protected Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs).
This autumn, get ready for the hunting season by first doing your homework on the candidates running for office in your area – call or email and ask them how they stand on conservation and the issues affecting wildlife in your state.
As few as 10 constituents asking the right questions about conservation can make a difference. Conservation programs impact millions of acres of land and the hunting opportunities associated.
Those programs are in the hands of our lawmakers. Learn the candidates’ platforms on conservation issues and vote for conservation this November 7th.
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