Bill Couch
02-18-99, 12:18 AM
I know there is considerable interest in the proposed wildlife tag legislation. Here is a press release I received today from DNR's communication folks.
The sales of these tags was an unexpected shot-in-the-arm the underfunded non-game program. I encourage everyone to seriously consider these when purchasing a vehicle tag.
Thanks,
Bill
DNR TRACKS BILL WHICH WOULD REDIRECT WILDLIFE TAG FUNDING
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (February 17, 1999) -- Signers of HB 653
which was introduced in the General Assembly on February 15, today told
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that they will not pursue this
legislation. This bill would have redirected money earned from the sale
of wildlife conservation vehicle tags from the Nongame Wildlife
Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund administered by the
Department of Natural Resources to the general state treasury. HB 653
was introduced by Representative Jay Shaw.
"While the bill sponsors were trying to find a way to fund the
important Bobwhite Quail Initiative and are in full support of funding
that program, we do not want to take money away from the
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program in order to accomplish this
objective," says Rep. Bob Lane, Chairman of the House Game, Fish and
Parks Committee. "We are working to come up with another way of funding
the bobwhite quail restoration project without breaking our promise to
the citizens who purchased the wildlife conservation vehicle tag."
"The Department is very concerned about the potential of losing
this funding source for nongame and endangered wildlife conservation,"
says David Waller, Director of the DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
"The Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program receives no state funding and
sales of the wildlife tag provide the bulk of funding for nongame
conservation programs presently underway in Georgia."
To date, more than 634,000 Georgians have purchased wildlife
conservation plates contributing more than $8.8 million to the Nongame
Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund. These
monies are being used to recover a number of threatened and endangered
wildlife populations, including bald eagles, right whales, loggerhead
sea turtles, and wood storks, as well as for conducting research and
surveys to help keep wildlife off of the endangered species list. The
wildlife tag has also provided funding for building trails and other
facilities for wildlife enthusiasts and providing educational resources
to teach children about Georgia's wildlife.
"When the wildlife tag was introduced, the Department widely
promoted the fact that sales of this tag would benefit nongame and
endangered wildlife conservation. We want to ensure that this funding
source remains intact," says Waller.
The sales of these tags was an unexpected shot-in-the-arm the underfunded non-game program. I encourage everyone to seriously consider these when purchasing a vehicle tag.
Thanks,
Bill
DNR TRACKS BILL WHICH WOULD REDIRECT WILDLIFE TAG FUNDING
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (February 17, 1999) -- Signers of HB 653
which was introduced in the General Assembly on February 15, today told
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that they will not pursue this
legislation. This bill would have redirected money earned from the sale
of wildlife conservation vehicle tags from the Nongame Wildlife
Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund administered by the
Department of Natural Resources to the general state treasury. HB 653
was introduced by Representative Jay Shaw.
"While the bill sponsors were trying to find a way to fund the
important Bobwhite Quail Initiative and are in full support of funding
that program, we do not want to take money away from the
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program in order to accomplish this
objective," says Rep. Bob Lane, Chairman of the House Game, Fish and
Parks Committee. "We are working to come up with another way of funding
the bobwhite quail restoration project without breaking our promise to
the citizens who purchased the wildlife conservation vehicle tag."
"The Department is very concerned about the potential of losing
this funding source for nongame and endangered wildlife conservation,"
says David Waller, Director of the DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
"The Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program receives no state funding and
sales of the wildlife tag provide the bulk of funding for nongame
conservation programs presently underway in Georgia."
To date, more than 634,000 Georgians have purchased wildlife
conservation plates contributing more than $8.8 million to the Nongame
Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund. These
monies are being used to recover a number of threatened and endangered
wildlife populations, including bald eagles, right whales, loggerhead
sea turtles, and wood storks, as well as for conducting research and
surveys to help keep wildlife off of the endangered species list. The
wildlife tag has also provided funding for building trails and other
facilities for wildlife enthusiasts and providing educational resources
to teach children about Georgia's wildlife.
"When the wildlife tag was introduced, the Department widely
promoted the fact that sales of this tag would benefit nongame and
endangered wildlife conservation. We want to ensure that this funding
source remains intact," says Waller.