Glorious good morning to all you Tweetsters --

I received this interesting item this morning and given the discussions
regarding the "Washington Conservation License" I thought that perhaps this
might be a timely thought for consideration and discussion. This is a rather
interesting idea and twist on this subject. It's a two-part message, so be
sure to read it through to the end if you find it sparking your interest. It
kind of makes me think that as we muddle along over discussing the issue of a
simple "Conservation License" which I think is fairly similar, we might be
overlooking a larger picture and in fact perhaps even a step or two behind
some other states in finding ways to fund, preserve, manage, and make
available statewide public natural areas to a broad range of people with
varying interests. However, I may be just a tweak confused. Is or is not the
Texas and Arizona Wildlife Passport Program discussed here just another way of
saying "Washington Conservation License" minus a few perks incorporated in
their programs?

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)
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-----Begin FWD Message: -----

Subj: Fwd: AZ: Wildlife Passport Program
Date: 98-01-11 07:57:54 EST
From: Myadesta
To: PAGODROMA

Mornin'!

This was posted yesterday to the BIRDWG05 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU (NBHC AZ/NM
Birds) server. You guys got anything like this in WA or OR? We don't here in
NM, but if it's going well in other states, I would like to work for it here.

In Texas, the program works VERY well. The Passport gets you unlimited free
entry into all state parks, wildlife management areas, and other state-owned
properties. Camping fees were reduced by $1/night, and at an initial cost of
$25, you could make that back in just a few months. They also developed a
series of programs (such as watching bird-banding projects, special access to
bat places, some neat horseback riding overnights), in which you could
participate only with the Passport. --Alice

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<<
We learned something *very* interesting at the pre-crane count orientation
last
Sunday. It seems that the Arizona Game & Fish Department now has a new way for
non-hunting/non-fishing wildlife enthusiasts to contribute to wildlife
habitat: the
Arizona Wildlife Passport Program.

Until a few years ago when Arizonans voted to create the Heritage Fund, which
sets aside $20 million out of state lottery revenues each year for wildlife
and outdoor recreation, "non-consumptive users" had little or no way to
contribute directly to wildlife conservation at the state level except a
pittance via the income tax check-off (for which there are now several
competing causes). And, of course, since virtually all revenues came from
hunting, fishing, boating, off-roading, etc., Game & Fish felt justified in
putting all its resources into managing for these users.

Things have gotten a bit better since Heritage, but evidence has recently
surfaced
that these revenues are not being spent as fast as the public would like them
to be,
which may be due in part to a lack of direct input from the "non-consumptive"
majority among wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts. The Wildlife Passport Program
gives us one more chance to put our money where our mouth is. The donation can
be general or applied to wildlife education, habitat, or watchable wildlife
sites and
activities (the last two would seem to be of most obvious benefit to birds and
birders).

So, you're asking, how do I make my contribution to this worthy effort on
behalf of
Arizona's non-game and "watchable" wildlife? Glad you asked. You can obtain an
application for the Arizona Wildlife Passport by calling (602) 942-3000, or
you can
send your contribution directly to:
Arizona Game & Fish Department (make checks payable to)
2221 W. Greenway Road
Phoenix, AZ 85023

The donor categories are:
Student - $10.00 (18 or younger)
Individual - $20.00
Supporting - $50.00
Family - $75.00
Corporate - $200.00

Be sure to include a note that you're making a contribution to the Wildlife
Passport
Program and as appropriate specify that your donation should be applied to
"Wildlife Education," "Wildlife Habitat," "Watchable Wildlife" or "General."

All donors receive a decal; Student, Individual and Supporting receive a donor
card,
Wildlife Passport book and stamp; Family donors get a Passport book and 4 each
cards and decals; Supporting donors get a copper version of the stamp;
Corporate donors receive a certificate and paperweight and get on the "Honor
Roll" in the agency's magazine, Arizona Wildlife Views.

Any of you who are familiar with similar programs such as the Texas Parks &
Wildlife Department's are probably wondering, "What neat sites and activities
will my passport give me access to?" As far as we can tell, none right now BUT
this is a very new program, and I can tell you from experience that this is
just how Texas's
program started out - in fact, it almost died due to lack of support. We've
got to
support Arizona's program first before we can expect it to grow enough to pay
us
"dividends" in the form of special activities and access privileges.

Whether you're an Arizona resident or just a fan of our birdlife, please,
please,
please consider giving to this program to support non-game wildlife and to
help give
birders a seat at the wildlife management table.

Sheri Williamson
Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory
Web Site: http://www.sabo.org
Business E-mail: sabo at SABO.org
Personal E-mail: otter at primenet.com

In the end, we conserve only what we love, we will love only what we
understand, and we will understand only what we are taught. -- Baba Dioum
>>