I noticed you didn't mention the new Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp . Russell Lima, Ohio ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Whan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 12:19 PM Subject: [Ohio-birds] Whither conservation dollars for birds? > 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 > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]