I would like to see the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp be more widely available. Penny O'Connor Cleveland OH -----Original Message----- >From: Russowl <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Dec 13, 2010 12:24 PM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Whither conservation dollars for birds? > >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] ______________________________________________________________________ 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]