Conservation Programs

Conservation Programs

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
Conservation groups are urging Congress to maintain funding for working lands conservation programs.

In Iowa for example, farmers have received $5 billion in federal conservation funds since 1995, and Joe Wilkinson, president of the Iowa Wildlife Federation, says everyone benefits.

"You know, any incentives we can get to get landowners to put more land into wildlife habitat, into any sort of conservation programs, is important to us, because we don't have the public acres that other states do," he states.

The large cuts to conservation funding means a reduction of easements.

Wilkinson says farmers and ranchers who focus on conservation are helping protect species like pheasants, and boost local industries.

"It has helped our pheasant population and that is a big economic value in Iowa, because pheasant hunting, small town Iowa is a big deal in the fall," he points out. "So, it's important, more than just the environmental/conservation side of it, too – there's a rural economic value to it."

Conservation programs promote enhanced wildlife habitat, better drinking water and increased flood control.

National Wildlife Federation, says conservation programs help keep farms and ranches in private hands, while protecting natural resources for future generations.

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