AmmoLand.com

Ducks Unlimited Applauds Legislature For Passing Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Act
Major step forward for Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy.

Iowas Funding Plan for the Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Act

Ducks Unlimited

DES MOINES, Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)- Following an important vote on Monday, Iowa moved one step closer to creating a permanent and dedicated Natural Resource and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.

This legislation will protect and improve the state’s water quality, agricultural soils, natural areas and fish and wildlife habitat.

Iowa’s House of Representatives passed Senate File 2310 by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 92-7, following a unanimous 50-0 passage by the Senate in late February. This legislation will be forwarded to Governor Culver’s desk to hopefully be signed into law. Enactment of this bill will provide greater clarity and accountability of allocation and distribution of funds from the new trust fund. Voters will be able to vote on this bill during the general ballot election on November 2, 2010.

“The future looks much brighter for Iowa’s wetland and waterfowl resources,” said James Roetman DU’s Iowa volunteer state chairman from Pocahontas.

“The passage of this important legislation provides much more specificity, understanding and assurance to Iowa voters and our members that these funds will be invested wisely, and as intended, as they head to the polls in November.”

The legislatively-created Sustainable Natural Resources Advisory Committee provided recommendations for SF 2310. The bill broadly defines that trust fund moneys be allocated and invested toward protection and enhancement of Iowa’s natural resources and outdoor recreational amenities.

These recommendations were based on specific natural resource needs and current funding limitations estimated at approximately $150 million per year. According to the advisory committee, Iowa ranks 47th out of 50 states nationally in current conservation spending and 49th in total public land ownership.

Ducks Unlimited has a long history of involvement in this effort and is supportive of the proposed constitutional amendment.

“This will help accelerate the conservation of wetlands, shallow lakes, wildlife management areas and other important waterfowl habitats in Iowa,” said Steve Adair DU director of the Great Plains Regional Office.

“DU has worked closely with many other organizations and supporters to build strong bipartisan support for this legislation,” said Roetman. “We’re grateful for the overwhelming support it received in both chambers and realize it’s now up to Iowa voters to make this vision a reality on November second.”

At least three other states have amended their respective constitutions to provide dedicated funding for habitat conservation including Missouri in 1976, Arkansas in 1996 and Minnesota in 2008.

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved over 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

Filed under: Conservation News by Ammoland 1 Comment »

NJ Forestry Stewardship Bill Poised to Be Signed Into Law

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Trenton, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- The NJ Legislature took a major step forward in passing a piece of forest stewardship legislation that the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance has been supporting along with other conservation organizations. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) The measure (A3239) and (companion bill S713) would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a forest stewardship program for owners of forest land who prepare forest stewardship plans for five acres of land or more. Under the bill, plans would be required to meet the rules and regulations of sustainability, list the owner’s long term stewardship goals for the forest land and the annual activities that will be implemented in the forest.

The bill also would direct the DEP to:

• Establish a cost share incentive program, “New Jersey Forest Stewardship Incentive Program,” if funds are appropriated or otherwise made available for the support and funding of such a program, the DEP would award grants to local government units, non-profit organizations, and private owners of forest land to help subsidize their costs in implementing stewardship activities.
• Create a forest stewardship advisory council
• Prepare a report every seven years based on these forest sustainability criteria and indicators, with the first report required by February 1st of the third year following the date of enactment.

The bill would further provide that no local government unit may enact, on or after the date of enactment of this bill into law, any ordinance, rule, or resolution, as appropriate, that conflicts with, prevents or impedes the implementation of a forest stewardship plan or impose a fee in excess of $100 in any calendar year for the cutting of trees on any land that is the subject of an approved forest stewardship plan.

This bill would amend the “Landowner’s Liability Act,” which provides general liability protection to landowners (as well as lessees and occupants of the lands) under certain circumstances for defined sport and recreational activities including hunting, fishing and trapping. However, current law removes that protection when permission is granted in exchange for payment such as a fee or lease agreement. This bill would remove this inhibition on lands where the landowner is implementing an approved forest stewardship plan and the use of the forest land for sport or recreational activity is consistent with the plan for sustainability.

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earth’s resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

Filed under: Conservation News by Ammoland 3 Comments »