All Outdoors July 16, 1999

2. Landmark wildlife funding bill tops 100 sponsors
3. Denny Ballard named to head Conservation Federation
4. Outdoor Calendar

Available via Internet at: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/news/out

"In the concert of nature it is hard to keep in tune with oneself if one is out of tune with everything else."George Santayana

2. Landmark wildlife funding bill tops 100 sponsors

Fifty-six Democrats and 50 Republicans have signed on as cosponsors of a bill that would reinvest federal oil lease revenues in parks, recreation and wildlife.

WASHINGTON, DCAnother member of Missouri's Congressional delegation has signed on as a sponsor of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) improving chances that the Show-Me State will receive millions of dollars in federal funding annually for parks, recreation and wildlife programs.

U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton is the latest Missouri congressional representative to throw his support behind CARA. The others are U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and U.S. Reps. Pat Danner and Karen McCarthy.

CARA (H.R. 701/S. 25) is being hailed as the most far-reaching conservation legislation in this half century and is gaining bipartisan support. "Not only do the cosponsors of this bill range in political ideology," said Rep. Don Young, Chairman of the House Resources Committee and lead sponsor of CARA, "but also in geography, comprising a unique bipartisan coalition of rural, suburban and inner city communities representing more than 31 states and territories."

With almost equal support from Democrats and Republicans, CARA ranks as the most promising environmental bill this Congress. "I believe we have an excellent opportunity to pass this landmark conservation legislation," said R. Max Peterson, executive vice president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, "now is the time to redouble efforts to assure this bill's successful passage this year."

Besides congressional progress, support from our nation's governors, mayors and farm organizations is growing. A few months ago, the National Governors Association endorsed CARA's concept of reinvesting Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas revenue into state wildlife, land and coastal conservation efforts. Since then, 27 governors have followed suit with individual position statements, 16 of which have endorsed CARA specifically.

The National Association of Counties and the United States Conference of Mayors have weighed in positively on this legislation. With a budget surplus for the first time since 1969, Congress will be debating the future of these funds with at least one strong conservation-funding package on the table.

Dean Kleckner, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), said in a recent letter to AFBF members that "Farm Bureau has not indicated a position on HR 701 or its companion legislation S 25. Both proposals contain some points straight from our policy book. However, we are working with the authors to bring the measures in line with other of our policies.

CARA would reinvest federal revenue from OCS oil and gas production back into the environment by sending more than $2 billion to states for various conservation purposes, including approximately $400 million for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation. This major infusion would double federal funding for state-level fish and wildlife management. This would allow states to manage for all wildlife, particularly historically underfunded nongame species, many of which are experiencing significant declines.

State fish and wildlife agencies are primarily financed by user fees paid for by sportsmen and women, accounting for 90% of all state fish and wildlife funding. "With dedicated, reliable and adequate funding, states can repeat the success stories of game species for other fish and wildlife," said David Waller, vice president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and director of the Georgia Division of Wildlife Resources.

"There is a compelling need to fully fund state wildlife conservation efforts in time to prevent species from becoming endangered. Currently, more than 2,000 species in this nation are in danger of falling through the cracks, many of which are already declining and heading toward the Endangered Species List. We have the opportunity to act now while there is still time and at much less cost," said Waller.

"It is because of the more than 3,000 organizations and businesses of a national initiative called Teaming with Wildlife that we finally have the attention of Congress," said Waller. The initiative originally proposed extending the user fee on hunting and fishing gear to other outdoor equipment and thus other outdoor users for state wildlife conservation and related recreation and education. The Conservation and Reinvestment Act's Title III generally addresses the same needs as Teaming with Wildlife, using a different funding source.

Peterson said, "Not only will this conservation trust fund assure a future for America's wildlife, it will help millions of Americans appreciate nature from their backyards to the backwoods." The House Resources Committees is intending to mark up CARA this month.

For more information on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999, visit <http://www.teaming.com> or contact the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies at (202) 624-7890. E-mail <teaming@sso.org>.

3. Denny Ballard named to head Conservation Federation

A strong background in grassroots conservation distinguishes the new leader of Missouri's largest citizen conservation group.

JEFFERSON CITYDennis Ballard, whose tenacious and pragmatic pursuit of grassroots conservation projects has earned him Missouri's most prestigious conservation awards, has been named to head the state's largest citizen conservation group.

Ballard, 57, began work July 7 as executive director of the Conservation Federation (CFM) of Missouri. The Boone County resident is a familiar face at the CFM, which named him its Conservationist of the Year in 1994.

Ballard earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Iowa in 1965 and worked as a senior research associate at the University of Iowa Department of Medicine until 1975. From 1975 to 1995 he served as an administrative officer for the Veteran's Administration's Research Division in Iowa City, Iowa, and Columbia, Mo. After retiring in 1995 he formed a company that makes safety harnesses for hunters in tree stands.

He was the first recipient of the Missouri chapter of The Wildlife Society's G. Andy Runge Award in 1994. In 1996 he received the Missouri Department of Conservation's Master Conservationist Award, the Missouri Conservation Agents Association's Special Recognition Award and the Missouri Bow Hunters Association's Pauline Reeg Award.

Contributions that brought Ballard those honors included teaching bowhunter education classes, co-founding the Columbia Area Archers, organizing the placement of bluebird nest boxes along part of the Katy Trail and helping establish a public archery range in Columbia. He also led the development of the Share the Harvest program, which provides a means for deer hunters to donate venison for needy persons.

Ballard counts his work on Share the Harvest as his most rewarding work to date. He started with a local pilot project through the Columbia Archers, working out logistical details with food pantries and charitable groups. Working through regulatory complications with the Missouri departments of Health and Conservation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he successfully lobbied the Missouri General Assembly for legislation that allowed Share the Harvest to be implemented statewide.

CFM President Howard Fleming said this record of conservation achievements made Ballard a stand-out in a field of more than two dozen highly qualified candidates.

"We conducted a nationwide search for the best person to lead the Conservation Federation into the twenty-first century," said Fleming. "Denny served as our interim director, which gave us the opportunity to watch him lobby the state legislature and deal with the day-to-day business of the Federation. His management experience, together with his proven ability to work with people weighed heavily in his favor."

Fleming said the one of Ballard's top priorities will be watchdogging animal rights groups' efforts to ban river otter trapping in Missouri. He said Ballard will work to expand the CFM's membership, enhance its financial position and develop closer working relationship with affiliate groups.

Conservation Department Deputy Director John Smith expressed pleasure at the CFM's choice. "I'm very excited about Denny Ballard's appointment," he said. "Denny is highly respected within the Department, and we look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with CFM under his able leadership."

Ballard replaces Deirdre Hirner, who served as CFM's executive Director from July, 1993, until March of this year. The CFM is Missouri's largest conservation group, with 35,000 members and more than 100 affiliate organizations.

- Jim Low -