One question popped up in my mind after reading Bill's post on the article was
the other options besides hunting revenue being used. Unfortunately, not all
those options will come with a guarantee of some quiet woods with natural
occurring habitats. Everyone who donates and pays their taxes will demand their
right to use these areas as they wish ,i.e., mountain bikers,
kayakers,quadrunners, joggers,dogwalkers,campers,handicap access,boaters, etc.
Most assuredly as these people learn that they cannot use these spots as
wished, the funding will whither much as the decline of hunting (according to
the article) has happened. I, also being a birder/hunter think that somehow an
alliance needs to be formed. Maybe percentages of the land obtained for hunting
also be managed for non game species. Hunting has limited seasons, most of the
pasttimes listed above know no bounds of time. Remember this next time you have
to jump off a path for a bike and watch the birds scatter .
I've seen the frustration coming from actions by the ODNR on this listserve.
Whatever your reasons: cruelty, conservation, god given rights,need for
solitude, comraderie, you cant buy Eden on somebody else's dime and expect them
not to eat some apples, but maybe you can ID the snake! Here's hoping for
cooperation...
It's no big news to readers of this list, but today's New York Times
(pg. D7) runs an article from the AP, "As Hunting Declines, Conservation
Efforts Suffer." It makes the point that fading interest in hunting is
resulting in fewer dollars going to conservation efforts. It also
laments the loss of income for the sporting industry. The article is
about Wisconsin's situation, but applies just as much here.
Regrettably, the article assumes only one thing can reverse this loss
of conservation dollars: reviving hunting, thus selling more hunting
licenses, duck stamps, ammunition, traps, etc. This is nonsense, of
course. There are plenty of other ways to direct more dollars to
conservation---donations to private organizations, levies for state and
local park systems, etc., and taxes. Red states like Missouri and
Arkansas for years have levied state sales taxes dedicated to the
acquisition and care of wild lands for wildlife, including but not
limited to species legal to hunt. The Missouri sales tax, first of all
its kind, and regularly renewed by a good majority of voters, is the
envy of other states, as are their conservation programs and
publications. Minnesota voters passed a similar law in 2008, and in the
last election Iowa voters easily passed a law to make 3/8 of 1% of the
next tax increase to go to conservation projects. Thus, Iowa residents
who spend $50,000 a year for taxable goods and services will pay about
$180 for conservation. Multiply that by millions of people and there's
some serious money for the outdoors. This is the modern efficient way to
accomplish these aims, not burdening (or serving) only hunters and
trappers, or asking birders to pretend to be hunters by buying a duck
stamp. If you want significant public money to go to birds other than
game species or raptors, this is the way to go.
Wear the orange,
Bill Whan
Columbus
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________________________________
From: Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, December 13, 2010 12:19:56 PM
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Whither conservation dollars for birds?
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