Missouri Conservation Funding Under The Gun!

Recently Scott Laurent, author of Wild Missouri, alerted me to a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution that threatens to destabilize the funding for the Missouri Department of Conservation.   

Just the thought of the MDC losing its funding makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  And I think most Missourians would agree, because they know that one of the things that makes Missouri such an incredible place to live, work and play is the beauty and diversity of its wildlands.

 Missourians take pride in the fact that they have such wonderful free rivers to float on and to catch fish from, and that there are still wild places left where one can go to escape the bombardment of man-made life. These wild and natural places are our inheritance – our natural heritage – and after we have enjoyed them, they rightfully belong to our children and to our children’s children, for endless generations to come.

But in order to ensure that we pass on this bountiful legacy, we must first ensure that it is protected from those who seek to exploit its abundant natural resources for private, personal, or political profit. That was a lesson our forefathers learned the hard way.

The raping and pillaging of Missouri’s landscape began as early as the late 1600’s, as miners and fur hunters found an abundance of natural wealth free for the taking. But the final blow in the destruction of Missouri’s wilderness began to take shape in the early 1800’s, when private interests proceeded to cut down every tree from every hill and every holler and every knob. Swamps were drained and riversides denuded. 

The hillsides were so devastated that one could see from mountain to mountain for miles and miles on end because there were no more trees to block the view.   Once all the trees had been cut down wildfires ravaged the landscape, leaving the bare earth to erode unchecked into our beautiful clear rivers and streams, killing mink, otter, fish, turtles and anything else that relied upon the waters for life.

Missourian’s learned about conservation the hard way – after all the wild game, including deer, bear, turkey, elk, otter, rabbit, weasel, grouse, quail, mountain lion, squirrel, bald eagle, songbirds and a wide array of fish, frogs and turtles became scarce or locally extinct.

The decline began with environmental degradation and was continued by unscrupulous bush-meat hunters that killed with such abandon, that many an elder Ozarker alive today remembers a time when seeing a deer in the woods was an amazing thing because there were so few left to see.

It wasn’t until the late 1930’s that Missourians really stood back and looked at what had become of their beautiful land.  When they saw the full extent of what they had allowed to happen, they cried.

It’s hard to imagine Missouri as bald and barren as a lunar landscape when all we have to do to see the abundance and diversity of our land is look outside .  But it is crucially important to see it from that historic perspective.

Just think about all the times you have hiked to a hidden lake or spring, or floated on a cold, clear river and then  imagine never having had that opportunity.  Remember the first time you went hunting, fishing or camping and imagine there were no fish or deer or trees. And for those new to the area, remind yourself why you came to Missouri in the first place and understand fully and completely that the Missouri Department of Conservation has been the driving force in rebuilding that once horribly scarred landscape into the lush landscape you enjoy today.

The process of restoring Missouri’s natural landscape has been a monumental task that has been decades in the making. It is no small means to rebuild an ecosystem from scratch, but through cooperative efforts of the MDC and the public, we have.  Some of these efforts include land acquisitions that link together critical wildlife corridors, restoration and protection of diverse ecosystems crucial for the support of both animals and plants, and reintroduction of key wildlife species, such as wild turkey.

Conservation isn’t just about preserving the land and its flora and fauna or protecting the environment that supports them, it’s also about people interacting with that environment in a positive and constructive way. Conservation efforts help landowners manage their private forestland, build ponds, restore wetlands, and increase opportunities for hunting, fishing, and recreation, and to teach future generations how to enjoy the land while protecting it at the same time.  It’s about making the land we live on better for both humans and wildlife.

The achievements attained by the Missouri Department of Conservation over the last 75 years have been nothing short of monumental, garnering them the honor of being one of America’s most emulated conservation programs. But these accomplishments in conservation don’t happen overnight, nor do they come for free. Missouri’s citizens know the value of the work of the MDC, which is why they afforded them funding through a 1/8^th of 1% sales tax. 

So before you rationalize the latest attempt by lawyers and big government officials to rob you, the citizens of this great state, of your natural heritage – remember how much you have loved the land and the quality of life you have enjoyed because of its existence.

The most recent attempt to thwart the continued efforts of the Missouri Department of Conservation comes in the form of an amendment to the state constitution, known as HJR 22. This bill was proposed by Republican Senator John Cauthorn of Missouri’s 18^th District. Of the 13 counties he represents, all are located in the north eastern portion of Missouri’s farm belt. His bill would in effect institute what lawmakers call a “sunset clause” on the current funding of the Missouri Department of Conservation, forcing voters to periodically vote to refund the department.  

At first glance, the wording of the amendment seems innocuous, but if the current trend of legislative movement in the State of Missouri is any indication, this bill is just another attempt to reduce quality public services to Missouri citizens.

When I first heard about the bill, I was naturally upset; yet, I wanted to be sure I had my facts straight before bringing it to the public’s attention. I wrote to both Senator Cauthorn and the Missouri Department of Conservation to get their input on the bill. I asked both to clarify the purpose of the bill and also how the bill might affect the ability of the Department of Conservation to continue its work.

And while Senator Cauthorn did not respond to my inquiry, Tim Smith, an Ombudsman for the Missouri Department of Conservation, had this to offer:

“…if the legislation passed, it would provide an opportunity for eliminating a large portion of MDC’s funding (sales tax revenues account for about 60% of our annual revenue). That loss of funding would severely limit the services that we are able to provide. Even if a public vote did not eliminate the conservation sales tax, it would limit our ability for effective long-term planning because a large part of our revenue would periodically be in doubt.

“This department’s budget represents less than one percent of the total state budget and we have enjoyed much public support. We believe that we have delivered effective conservation according to our mandate.”

Mr. Smith continued, by pointing out that surveys have indicated that,

• “Nine of ten Missourians are interested in the state’s fish, forests and wildlife resources.

• Eighty-five percent of adult Missouri residents trust the Department to manage those resources.
  
• Seventy-three percent of Missourians believe that the Department is doing a good job.”

If the health of our natural lands, our access to those lands, and the increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation and education are any indication that the Missouri Department of Conservation is not only improving the quality of our lives, our property values, and our appeal as a tourist destination, then we should work tirelessly to protect that entity which has most improved our personal lives, our communities, and our state.

Now is not the time to sit by and allow politics to destroy a 75-year old legacy in Missouri! Now is the time to stand up and fight for the dreams of our founding fathers and for the future generations of Missourians. Support the Missouri Department of Conservation by writing or calling your state representatives and congressmen today.

Tell them to kill bill HJR 22!

Find out who your legislators are by visiting  http://www.house.mo.gov/  Simply enter your zip code in the box entitled Legislator Look-Up on the far right hand side of the page.

Read Scott Laurent’s original posting here:  Alert! Design for Conservation Sales Tax

Jill Henderson is an artist, author and the editor of Show Me Oz
You can find her book, A Journey of Seasons: A Year in the Ozark High Country, in our bookstore.

Copyright Jill Henderson – All Rights Reserved

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