From: IN%"TWS-L at cornell.edu" 29-JUN-1995 17:13:43.14
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Subj: Wildlife DiversityFunding Initiative

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Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 17:12:31 -0400
From: tws at birdseye.asprs.org (The Wildlife Society)
Subject: Wildlife DiversityFunding Initiative
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Greetings from the national office! We are very excited about the
discussion that is being generated on the list serve about WDFI. Thanks for
all of your comments.

I am the new policy intern working with Tom Franklin in Bethesda, and I have
a strong personal interest in WDFI. I have contacted Naomi Edelson from the
International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (the organization
that is coordinating the effort), and am planning to begin a periodic
update, on the listserve, on the status of the initiative. I thought that
it might be helpful to start with an outline distributed by IAFWA that will
give a background on what the WDFI is all about. I hope that this will be a
good introduction and that we can get our members interested and involved.
If there are any questions or comments, feel free to contact me through
e-mail or on the phone. Thanks again, Jodi Applegate

INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
THE WILDLIFE DIVERSITY FUNDING INITIATIVE

How the Fund will work -

Summary: An outdoor enthusiasts' dedicated user fee, in the form of modest
surcharges on a spectrum of outdoor products, aims to raise $350 million
needed for wildlife diversity programs. The funding initiative is an
ingenious way of investing in the future by giving Americans the opportunity
to contribute now to conserving the wildlife they care so deeply about.
Three important benefits will result: it will conserve a diverse array of
fish and wildlife and their habitats, with an emphasis on preventing species
from becoming endangered; it will enhance the recreational experiences
people gain from the outdoors; and it will foster a responsible stewardship
ethic through conservation education efforts.

What outdoor products are being considered for a user fee?

* Outdoor recreation equipment including backpacks, sleeping bags,
tents, canoes, mountain bikes, etc;

* Optical equipment including binoculars and spotting scopes;

* Photographic equipment including film and cameras;

* Backyard wildlife supplies including bird seed, feeders, houses
and baths, etc;

* Recreational vehicles;

* Guide books including field identification and "how-to-find"
guides (e.g. wildlife viewing guides).


How much of a user fee?

Up to 5% surcharge on manufacturer's price of product, with lowest
rates applying to most expensive products. For example, a 5% surcharge on a
$100 tent that wholesales for $50 would be $2.50; a $10 field guide would
have a surcharge of 30 cents; a $300 canoe would have a surcharge of $9
(amortized over 5-10 years amounts to $1-2 a year)

How will customers know?

Green Logo: The fund's logo will be displayed on the product's tag
with a short explanation of how the funds are dedicated for wildlife
conservation, recreation, and education.

What precedents are there for this funding mechanism?

For over 50 years, hunters and anglers have paid user fees on
hunting and fishing equipment to the Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration
Funds. These funds have restored populations of once critically low species
such as the wild turkey, wood duck, pronghorn antelope, and striped bass;
conserved thousands of acres of habitat across our nation; and provided
countless hours of enjoyment on our nation's lands and waterways for
hunters, anglers and many other outdoor enthusiasts.

How will administrative costs be kept low?

Using the Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration Funds process, an
efficient and proven system for collection and distribution of funds is in
place, eliminating the need for a new bureaucracy and saving adminstrative
costs; administrative costs will be capped at 8%.

How will the funds be collected and distributed?

* U.S. Treasury collects the user fees from manufacturers or
through import duties to pass to U.S Fish and Wildlife Service for
distribution as grants to state fish and wildlife agencies.

* Matching grants would be made available to States and Territories
as a 75% federal: 25% state match.

* Funds would be allocated using a formula based on population
(2/3) and land area (1/3) of each State. No State or Territory would
receive less than 0.5% or more than 5% of the total funds.

* A grants program will be created for projects of regional and
national significance.

How can we ensure funds will be used for wildlife diversity programs?

There can be no diversions of these funds for other purposes. Funds
will be dedicated by law for wildlife diversity projects focused on
conservation, recreation, and education. Funds will be available for the
primary benefit of fish and wildlife other than game species.

(from IAFWA Funding Initiative Source Book)

I will follow with an update shortly - JA.


The Wildlife Society
5410 Grosvenor Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 897-9770
tws at wildlife.org