Conservation concerns
run quiet, but deep

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This article first appeared in INHF's Winter 2007 magazine.

Grant Baker/INHF

According to a recent poll, 89% of Iowans believe that protecting Iowa’s natural resources improves public health, and 77% believe conservation keeps our economy strong by attracting high-quality employers and keeping our children in Iowa.

According to a recent poll, most Iowans place conservation issues among the most serious problems facing this state, and they support higher funding to address those issues.

When asked to describe the relative seriousness of a long list of public problems, respondents’ concerns about “pollution of rivers/lakes/streams” and “loss of farmland to development” were exceeded only by “a lack of affordable health insurance coverage.”

Despite which topics draw the most media and political attention, respondents assigned a statistically equal level of seriousness to pollution and lost farmland as to the price of gas, public education and crime/drugs/gangs. They found these conservation issues more serious than economy/unemployment, personal tax payments and affordable housing.

How to pay?

Most respondents (77%) support dedicated funding for conservation. As expected, opinions varied strongly on the best way to raise these funds. Of several funding mechanisms proposed, respondents were most united on dedicating state gambling revenues (80% support) and offering tax credits for landowners who permanently set aside lands to prevent erosion and protect Iowa streams, lakes and wildlife (74% support).

Though Iowans are never eager to raise their own taxes, a plurality of poll respondents indicate they are willing to personally pay an extra $25 per year for better conservation. Nearly a third of respondents say they’d pay an extra $100 for better conservation—indicating underlying support that exceeds the combined membership of all Iowa conservation groups.

Iowa legislators are now considering a variety of proposals for sustainable conservation funding. If you’re one of the quiet majority who believes that conservation deserves greater attention and support, let your voice be heard!

About the poll

This poll was conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin and Associates on Nov. 27-30. They contacted 800 adult Iowans by phone.

Dedicated funding?

Mark Ackelson represents the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on a sustainable natural resources funding advisory committee to the Iowa legislature. INHF was one of 18 entities appointed to the committee to recommend a conservation funding initiative and to analyze public willingness to pay for conservation needs. These are the top five dedicated funding sources recommended by the committee:

• Gambling revenues
• Lottery profits
• State bonding
• State tax credits/incentives
• A sales tax increase dedicated to conservation (similar to Missouri’s policy)

INHF provided policy research information to the committee and will continue to be an advocate for state funding initiatives.

 

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.