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| Nature Conservancy and the Feds grabbing more land |
March 04, 2000 1:18 AM
I found this article on WorldNetDaily. The specific references to The Nature Conservancy are near the end of the article.
FARMERS FIGHT 50,000 ACRE
FEDERAL LAND GRAB
12 year old testifies before Senate; tries to save her family's home
By Matthew Mittan, The Asheville Tribune
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has announced
it's desire to create a fifty-three thousand acre wildlife refuge, much
to the chagrin of local residents. Federal officials have targeted, for
their refuge, some of the best farmland in the United States, land that
has been farmed by some of the same families for two hundred years.
Residents opposed to the federal land designation say
that the proposed refuge would dispossess hundreds of families and
transform a productive agricultural economy into a non-productive
service economy.
The people of Madison and Union counties in Ohio are
overwhelmingly opposed to the proposal. But that has not slowed the
federal agencies from pursuing the land.
Due to that fact, two local grassroots groups, Stewards
of the Darby (SOD) and Citizens Against Refuge Proposal (CARP) are at
the forefront of the land rights battle. Through these groups, local
residents drafted a Declaration entitled "Our Land Is Our
Responsibility" which reads in part, "We, the residents of the area
publicized as the "Darby Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Study Area"
want our voices heard! We, who live and work in this farming community,
believe the impact to area businesses would jeopardize their very
existence. The Madison County Auditor's Office projects the affected
region generates $300 per acre, which turns over 6-7 times (in buying
power) before leaving the community. This translates into a potential
deficit of $90 million dollars to our area businesses.
"[Additionally,] United States Representative Ralph S.
Regula asserts: 'It is simply irresponsible to take on new land
responsibilities, and give grants to cities, States and private
institutions, when we cannot afford to adequately take care of our
primary Federal responsibilities - the public lands.'
"The State Forest Department manages and protects 7.1
million acres of forest land in Ohio, for the benefit of all Ohio
citizens. One hundred eighty one thousand acres of State-owned forest
land are available for multiple benefits, including wildlife,
recreation, timber products, and soil and water protection. In addition,
there are 72 State Parks in Ohio where the public can interact with
nature at its leisure. With this great abundance of parks and wildlife
areas, all supported by our tax dollars, is there really a need for more
public land?
"Actual area land auctions show that a 500-acre farm is
worth $1.5 million dollars. To this initial cost, add a reasonably
priced home at a cost of $85,000, and minimal equipment at
approximately $641,000, and the combined start-up cost totals $2.226
MILLION DOLLARS. After committing to an investment of such magnitude,
why would our astute, agriculturally- and family-minded farmers want to
sell?
"In the case of the proposed Darby Prairie National
Wildlife Refuge, most of the 53,692 acres is land that has been acquired
by our farmers over many generations. This "ownership endurance"
enables us to continue our conservation-accredited farming skills, thus
growing with our investments. At an average of 4.5 persons per home,
this equates to the possible residential displacement of over 7,500
people from the Study Area alone, with a loss of approximately 4,000
taxpayers to the community. We have a proven track record of providing
Americans with a diversity of products in the global marketplace, with a
combination of wheat, corn, and soybeans; there would be a loss of over
3 million bushels of grain from the Study Area!
"With well over 50,000 acres lost to food production, how
many non-farmers would be willing to relinquish their combined homes
and yards to replace the fertile soil that presently feeds so many, that
would be permanently lost by the introduction of a National Wildlife
Refuge? At some point, we will no longer have the abundance of
high-quality, reasonably priced food that we now take for granted at our
supermarkets.
"The growing of food to nourish our citizens is certainly
as much a consideration as re-establishing a tall grass prairie. Eating
is not going to go out of style, and we are not willingly going to yield
our bountiful land to either developers or Federal Agencies who say they
are 'protecting us' from development.
"Those of us who have been entrusted with the privilege
of caring for the land, know well the proper care and nurturing required
to maintain, protect and preserve our farmlands, and sustain a
well-established wildlife habitat through conservation management. With
an eye to the future, and the experience of almost two hundred years,
we know that Our Land Is Our Responsibility!"
In response to the public outcry, two bills have been
introduced in the Ohio Legislature, HCR 44 (Rep Jim Buchy) and SCR 28
(Sen. Merle Grace Kearns). Both bills seek to block the federal effort.
"We are trying to send a message to the federal government that we do
not want this in our state," said Julie Smithson, a career truck driver
who has been closely involved with the debate.
Advocates for the protection of private property in Ohio
hope that their struggle for the control of their land is not lost on
the ears of citizens in other areas across the nation. "We hope that
other States can take up the issue and join the bandwagon."
This fight has involved more than just the adults in the
area. Sheena Pennell, a 12 year old student, recently won an
international essay contest, sponsored by Walt Disney and McDonalds, for
her writings on the Darby Refuge controversy. Sheena believes that the
local residents are doing just fine taking care of the land and that
the Fish and Wildlife Department doesn't need to be telling farmers how
best to manage their
properties. Sheena's mother Marlyne spoke to the Tribune
while Sheena was at school Tuesday. She stated that Sheena has always
been an independent thinker and that her daughter became very interested
in the Darby dispute, researching numerous documents and asking to
attend several local town hall type meetings. "She's been a 4-H'er since
she was 5 years old, you learn to respect the land."
During the course of her inquiries, Sheena learned of
numerous facts that caused her skepticism of the FWA initiative.
"Several farmers in the area have received awards from the Fish and
Wildlife Service for outstanding environmental standards," Mrs. Pennell
stated. That didn't seem to gel with the position that the FWA was
coming in to "protect the land", Pennell asserted.
The Pennell family home is located on five acres that
they have owned for nearly a decade. They say they chose the area to
raise their family because of its small town, friendly appeal. They
enjoy the traditional farming community life. However, that could soon
change due to the fact that their land is within the proposed Wildlife
Refuge area.
That situation, and young Sheena's essay, landed the
family a seat in front of a Senate Committee looking into the Darby
conflict last week. "She was a little nervous at first, but I think she
feels like she's helping to make a difference," her mother told the
Tribune. "She got to see [Senators] hearing her opinions."
A second round of State Senate hearings has been
scheduled for mid-March.
On the Federal level, written testimony was presented to
the U.S. House Resources Committee recently. The testimony read as
follows: "Our area is under threat of being declared a National Wildlife
Refuge by the actions of corrupt officials of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, acting in collusion with The Nature Conservancy, which is
attempting to impose one of its restrictive 'Bioreserve' projects on our
farming community.
"The Columbus Foundation and Affiliated Organizations, a
consortium of urban foundations unconcerned about rural economies and
the property rights of farmers, gave The Nature Conservancy a grant of
$25,000 in 1996 'For Darby Bioreserve Project, including hiring
RiverKeeper to promote citizen-based protection of Big and Little Darby
Creeks.'
"Despite massive opposition to the Project by our local
citizens, the USFWS
continues to act under the influence of The Nature
Conservancy and their
funders, the Columbus Foundation consortium, to cripple
our farm community.
"We request that Congress fully investigate this
foundation-funded attempt to destroy the economy of our local farm
community."
The House Resources Committee is Chaired by Rep. Don
Young (R, Alaska). No action had been taken on the Darby Wildlife
Refuge designation as of press time.
For more information contact: Stewards of the Darby at
740-857-1239 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 202-208-5403. The
U.S. House Resources Committee can be reached by calling 202-225-2761. |
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