The Proposal
Creation of a Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp
A birder, wildlife watcher, photographer and non-hunter version of the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (aka Federal Duck Stamp).
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Why a Separate Wildlife Conservation Stamp?
A Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp would provide a robust, parallel revenue stream for National Wildlife Refuges, preserving habitat and wildlife, while giving non-extractive users a funding tool and a stronger voice in habitat and wildlife decisions on our shared, public lands.
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Consider the following quotes, taken from Martin J. Smith’s book The Wild Duck Chase, which covers the history of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest:
- “The biggest challenge facing the [Duck Stamp] program today: Unless it can convince birders and other non-hunters that buying duck stamps is the best way to conserve wetlands and the other wildlife habitats they treasure, the burden of doing so will continue to fall on the dwindling number of hunters and stamp collectors who traditionally support the program.”
- Elizabeth Jackson of the Duck Stamp Program is not optimistic about birders or non-hunters embracing the Duck Stamp as hunters have. She says, “there’s just a cultural bias against anything related to hunting.”
- “For many hunters, the traditional paper stamp is more than just a receipt for a tax paid, it is a badge of honor, a symbol of the hunter’s respect for the natural resources they are privileged to use … duck hunters are proud of their sport, proud of their heritage, and proud of their Duck Stamp Program.” (emphasis is the author’s)
These quotes summarize the challenges facing the current Duck Stamp program: reduced financial support; cultural differences between hunters and non-extractive users; and, a strong association with Duck Stamps as a traditional financial resource for hunters. These statements also indirectly point to a viable solution, which is a separate Wildlife Conservation Stamp. Not only would such a stamp help overcome revenue shortfalls in the National Wildlife Refuge System, it could erase the cultural obstacles cited by Jackson. A dedicated Wildlife Conservation Stamp would also instill a source of community pride and involvement for birders and wildlife watchers, just as the Duck Stamp does for hunters. Wildlife watchers and birders share a passionate commitment to wildlife, but they often diverge from hunters on which habitat, resources and Refuge priorities should be funded and emphasized.
Why Many Wildlife Watchers Don’t Buy the Duck Stamp
Among birders and wildlife watchers, there’s little disagreement about supporting our 560 National Wildlife Refuges, along with the habitat and wildlife they sustain. Most wildlife watchers are anxious to contribute their resources toward that end. Disagreements tend to occur, however, when the subject of the Federal Duck Stamp arises. The concerns tend to fall into the following categories:
- Duck Stamp purchases by non-hunters are not accurately accounted for — which means that when critical decisions are made about Refuge priorities, non-extractive users are forgotten in favor of hunters and anglers. As Mike Bergin wrote at the 10,000 Birds blog, “Apparently, when it comes time to calculate the financial contributions of the different sectors of outdoor enthusiasts, only hunters and anglers put up worthwhile cash, in part through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.”
- Because of this accounting, hunters have disproportionate influence and use of Refuge lands during the height of fall and winter migratory bird season. In some cases, large portions of, or entire Wildlife Refuges are closed to the non-hunting public during this time.
- Historically, National Wildlife Refuges viewed the “Duck Factory” (game bird conservation) as a high priority, while relegating non-game issues to a lower rung. It’s only in recent years that Refuges have fully acknowledged this gap in resource allocation, but funding is still not nearly adequate to achieve all resource goals.
- Hunters and groups like the NRA consistently leverage the power of Duck Stamp funding to promote hunter-friendly agendas (such as expansion of hunting rights on refuges) sometimes overriding the voices of non-hunters whose wildlife considerations are often different yet equally valid.
The Current Status of Refuge Funding
A 2013 Wildlife Society Bulletin piece states that changing demographics and cultural shifts away from hunting could result in a $14.3 million annual loss to refuges. According to CARE (Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement) consistent underfunding cripples our National Wildlife Refuge System in a variety of ways, including operations and maintenance backlogs. Additional issues include a shortage of law enforcement officials, as well as invasive species problems on 2.5 million acres of Refuge lands. In a time of Congressional austerity, Refuge advocates face an uphill battle in retaining public funding for the Wildlife Refuge System.
The Benefits of a Wildlife Conservation Stamp
A 2011 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted 71.1 million wildlife watchers in the U.S., and 13.7 million hunters. Wildlife watchers outnumber hunters significantly, and they spend $55 billion dollars each year in the pursuit of wildlife activities. In other words, there is a large and enthusiastic source of untapped revenue from wildlife watchers, one that could be rendered viable through this dedicated funding stream.
Please read: Benefits of the Wildlife Conservation Stamp
Funding Allocation
Funds from the purchase of Wildlife Conservation Stamps would be distributed for the following purposes:
- Birds: Habitat acquisition for birds and wildlife species.
- Blinds: Photography and birding blinds.
- Boardwalks: Boardwalks, viewing platforms, and interpretive trails.
- Binoculars: Wildlife education and field materials for children and adults, generating enthusiasm for non-consumptive uses of National Wildlife Refuges.
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If you are a member of the media, a blogger or wildlife advocate please feel free to use this material or download our Wildlife Conservation Stamp Proposal (in pdf format) to cover or promote the project. You can also download related graphics from our Press Images page.
Resources:
2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/natsurvey2011-prelim-state.pdf
The Wild Duck Chase
by Martin J. Smith
Walker & Company, Sep 2012
Restoring America’s Wildlife Refuges 2011
Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement
http://www.fundrefuges.org/new-pdf-files/2011/CARE-Report-2011/CARE_report_%202011-5-10-11.pdf
Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation 2011
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://americaswildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Final-Vision-Document.pdf
Time to Buy a Duck Stamp … or Not
10,000 Birds Blog
http://10000birds.com/time-to-buy-a-duck-stamp-or-not.htm
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Being a Wildlife Rehabilitator and President of Injured & Orphaned Wildlife, Campbell, California I believe it is about time that wildlife had its own stamp, which can depict those species that are endangered or not, mammal, fish, reptile, amphibian, bird all wildlife. Just because they exist, not because they are a hunted species.
Thank you for your comment Norma. We agree 100%. That is why we are working to create this alternative income stream for our National Wildlife Refuge System. Our wildlife needs a place to rest and recuperate during their arduous journey through life and we think that our refuges do a good job of offering this respite. We do feel that sometimes non-game species are overlooked in this process and hope that a Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp will help to focus on those species that may sometimes not be considered in this process.
Larry,
I agree totally that a Wildlife Stamp is critically important for the continued support of the federal refuge system. California should have one as well. My main objection to buying a “Duck Stamp” is that it would inflate the number of hunters and perpetuate the imbalance of users of the NWR system. A Wildlife Stamp is the answer.
Thank you for sharing your view on this important issue Bill. We believe that there are many birders that feel the same way and that an alternative stamp will engage millions of people that have never bought a Duck Stamp but will purchase this one.
When you have treasures like these, what better way to go than to support, and honor the diversity. A Wildlife Stamp I think would show our dedication to this cause.
I agree Merrill. I think wildlife enthusiasts ARE a dedicated group and we simply need an avenue to show how much we care.
We are bird/wildlife amateur photographers and we prowl wildlife refuges. We think a wildlife stamp is an incredibly worthwhile idea. I would purchase such a stamp as soon as it was available. Is it so expensive to “create” such a stamp that no one in the Federal Government can initiate such a project? Targeted contributions to Government-operated facilities such as NWRs are smart and should be pretty darn effective. Come on, Sierra Club and Audubon etc.
Thank you for your perspective Robert. As far as your question about the federal government initiating such a project, we believe that there must be sufficient force applied the the government to get a project like this started and that is exactly what we are doing. As our numbers of supporters grow, we will reach a critical mass that our legislators cannot ignore. The time is right for this additional funding stream for the many reasons we have outlined here.
A wildlife stamp seems a fair and reasonable, and potentially very effective measure to take in these times.
Thank you Sally. Even if the stamp sells for $20 we think it is a small price to pay for wildlife conservation AND entrance to all the National Wildlife Refuges!
Many people may not be willing to pay $20 just to donate the the federal government. It might help sales if the buyer gets something in return, such as use of a blind.
That is an excellent idea Robert. Our proposal already includes purchaser access to all National Wildlife Refuges for the year but maybe a special lottery for access to a photography blind would be a great addition to a benefit package for stamp purchasers.
I support this 100%. I have been buying Duck Stamps to support the refuges, but I never considered that my purchase isn’t known to refuge managers to be from a wildlife supporter, not a hunter, thanks for pointing that out and I can’t wait to buy a wildlife stamp!
YES!!!! I’ve always refused to buy Duck Stamps, because I felt that my interests in enjoying and preserving non-target birds and habitat would be misrepresented by a Duck Stamp. Hunters need and want different situations from what a nature enthusiast enjoys. In fact, sometimes our interests are completely opposite. Hunted ducks are extremely people and gun shy and become difficult to view, even with binoculars and scopes. Also, I kind of resent that at peak times hunters are allowed to drive on the levees and use the blinds, when as a nature enthusiast I’m not even allowed to walk on those same levees or use the blinds. I contribute plenty to the general economy too, through purchases of binoculars for myself and family members, cameras, hiking gear, and software to share my “image captures” around with friends. All of this flies under the radar if I buy a Duck Stamp, so I never have done so in the past. I’d love to be able to buy a wildlife stamp, especially if it allows me to have the same privileges as the hunters (access to blinds and access to wildlife viewing at peak times).
Sandhill crane festival on April 4-6 2013 Othello Washington. We are located in the center of the state.
Now, I worry about another stamp be added to Washington residents as we have the pass that we have to buy with our fishing license, a discovery pass through the state in order to go onto the refuge’s and now a federal stamp for the time’s that we might go to another state. Not only that but if you go onto the reserve’s here you have to either buy a daily stamp at $10 a day for out of stater’s or buy the thirty dollar pass if it is cheaper for you. If the stamp is voluntary, I think that it wouldn’t prevent some of those on limited finances from still going out occasionally and enjoying themselves. I don’t want to see us preventing the low income from enjoying what the rich can afford. I like the idea of the stamp. But I’m one of those getting up in years too.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment Eric. We would never want to burden any of the nation’s citizens with additional fees to access our National Wildlife Refuges, especially those less fortunate. We believe that all citizens should have equal access to public lands. The Wildlife Conservation Stamp we envision would be a voluntary contribution to our National Wildlife Refuges from folks that want to contribute to the growth and health of these beautiful places.
Concerning the fees charged by the state of Washington for wildlife related activities, the Discover Pass provides access to all State Parks and Recreation Areas for $30 a year, which sounds like a really good deal to me. It does not, however allow access to the National Wildlife Refuges in the state.
I believe that most of the National Wildlife Refuges in Washington have either nominal entrance fees or no fees at all. The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge for example charges $3 a day for four adults! Now that’s a deal!
As I stated above, this Wildlife Conservation Stamp would be voluntary and provide access to all National Wildlife Refuges across the country for an entire year from the date of purchase.
Larry recently posted..Calliope and Anna’s Male Hummingbirds at the Feeder
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