Dear HCN,
Jon Margolis’ article on
the Teaming with Wildlife initiative (HCN, 12/23/96) was ironic,
coming as it did on the heels of the previous issue on the
increasing political power that motorized vehicle users have
developed in the West. As Margolis points out, this seems to be a
benign plan, only opposed by “left-of-center” enviros and (by
implication) tax-hating militiamen.
As with all
things in Congress, there is more to this than meets the eye. No
bill has actually been introduced in Congress, so it is difficult
to know what this initiative is really all about. If this is to be
a wildlife initiative, it should be structured to enhance wildlife
per se, not generic “recreation” as it seems to be
evolving.
Most disturbingly, the initiative is
being heavily promoted by Yamaha and other makers of off-road
vehicles. These folks see the possibility of a program that would
support the interests of their customers. As contributors, these
companies and their customers would have a perfectly legitimate
call on the proceeds of such a fund to promote off-road vehicle
parks and the designation of trails for the use of these
vehicles.
To suppose that these activities would
do much for wildlife (as opposed to the wild life), is wishful
thinking. A particularly insidious outcome would be to make game
and fish departments across the nation even more beholden to
motorized recreation interests than they already are inclined to
be.
Game and fish departments do need to broaden
their bases of support, and some are reaching out to
non-consumptive users of wildlife. However, such funding needs to
be based on the concept of habitat and wildlife as common goods
belonging to all the people of the state, and to be provided by
legislatures, not through an activity-specific
tax.
If the funding source is tied to specific
interests, it will divert the focus of the agencies from wildlife
issues and make them into all-purpose recreation
departments.
In this light, this initiative is at
best an insult to the credulity of the very people it is trying to
recruit as supporters. At worst, it looks like a stealth attack on
wildlife and its habitat.
Thomas
Jervis
Los Alamos, New
Mexico
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Wildlife initiative may have hidden wheels.
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