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Farm Bill Puts Priority Conservation Programs at Stake
One of the largest packages of legislation to be considered in 2007 is the Farm Bill, which is generally rewritten every six years in Congress. Like many pieces of legislation that have multiple titles, some of its measures will improve conservation, while others will harm the environment. Audubon's aim is to guide Congress in producing the best conservation results possible.
The bill is expected to authorize conservation programs, especially the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) that will help conserve tens of millions of acres of private land. These programs, and others, offer outstanding habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl.
This legislation's land conservation programs are administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS offers full professional support-including biologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, and more-to landowners, and helps them navigate the entire enrollment process: deciding which programs to apply for, writing restoration plans, and even assisting with the actual applications.
Legislative work on the next Farm Bill has already started, and it is expected that there will be an energy title in the upcoming legislation that may aim to take some prime tall grass prairie out of conservation and instead use it for energy production. In contrast to the programs described above, this practice may cause great harm to migratory birds and waterfowl.
Aside from the Farm Bill, Audubon's Public Policy Office also regularly advocates for many other conservation programs that are funded in the annual federal budget.
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