Let's put that more positively:  Ohio birders can support the Ohio Division
of Wildlife conservation activities by purchasing the new Ohio Wildlife
Legacy stamp.  This stamp is ODW's first attempt at developing a voluntary
program to raise funds for wildlife conservation in Ohio.  I certainly agree
with Bill that a larger scale, more comprehensive program is needed, but the
Ohio Wildlife Legacy stamp is at least a start.  Moreover, success with this
program might help demonstrate that there is a non-hunting/fishing
constituency for conservation in Ohio, which may, in turn, help lay the
groundwork for measures such as levies or other revenue sources.

You can purchase Ohio Wildlife Legacy stamps in a variety of ways, including
online at the Columbus Audubon website (http://ColumbusAudubon.org -- select
Order Wildlife Legacy Stamps from the menu on the left).

By the way, we could have a long, contentious discussion about the kinds of
conservation activities that ODW does, whether ODW still is too focused on
consumptive activities (hunting, fishing, and trapping), and so on.  But ODW
really has made some progress in this area.  In my opinion, they are a lot
more likely to continue to move toward broader constituencies if those
constituencies show some support.

Bill Heck


On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 12:24 PM, Russowl <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________________
>>
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>>
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> 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]
>



--
Bill Heck

______________________________________________________________________

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:
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