Save FOREVER WILD

Instead of supporting the reauthorization of the Forever Wild program which has been in place for the past 20 years (1992-2012), two letters - one signed by Rep. Richard Lindsey to all state house members and the same letter signed by Sen. Roger Bedford to all state senate members - are asking for the consideration of a "Conserve Alabama" amendment, while also asking that no member commit to the reauthorization of Forever Wild.

The letters regarding the "Conserve Alabama" Amendment do not provide any funding details. We have been informed previously that the entities referenced in the letter have recommended diversion of Forever Wild Funds for other uses - as much as $10 Million to be split evenly between the programs of interest to ALFA and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts with Forever Wild allocated $5 Million. It is our hope that this is not case, and that the entities involved will join us in "Protecting and Reauthorizing Forever Wild Funding" - but at this time we do not have the necessary information to draw that conclusion. A reduction in Forever Wild funding in any way would ultimately gut one of the most successful programs ever passed by the legislature and passed by an overwhelming 83% of Alabamians.  

It is urgent that both Sen. Bedford and Rep. Lindsey receive a significant number of calls immediately from our coalition urging them to not introduce any legislation that would reduce funding to Forever Wild. Also, please forward this message to as many others and encourage them to make calls as well. If they have an interest in expanding Alabama 's conservation efforts for additional worthy projects, gutting Forever Wild isn't the answer.

Please place calls immediately to both offices. If you don't get to speak with the member, leave the message that you're calling to support the reauthorization of Forever Wild in its current form. Contact information for both offices is listed below.

Senator Roger Bedford: (334) 242-7862 Representative Richard Lindsey: (334) 242-7713

FOREVER WILD FACT SHEET
*Forever Wild was established by Constitutional Amendment in 1992 with 83% voter support.
*Forever Wild funding will sunset in 2012 unless reauthorized. Forever Wild has done a superb job over the past 17 years. Because of this, it should be reauthorized as is without any changes. We shouldn’t try to fix what’s not broken.
*Forever Wild exhibits the true spirit of conservation by taking its funding from finite, depleted oil and gas reserves and using those funds to permanently protect our state’s most beautiful and most ecologically sensitive land.
*Forever Wild funding comes from 10% of the annual earnings of the Alabama Trust Fund, not to exceed $15 Million in any year - funding is estimated at $8.5 Million in 2010.
*Forever Wild is authorized to secure public lands for Wildlife Management Areas, Recreation Areas, Nature Preserves, and State Parks.
*Forever Wild can only purchase lands from willing sellers and has never paid more than appraised value for the lands it has purchased.
*Forever Wild helps ensure that the quality of our air and drinking water isn’t compromised.
*Because of Forever Wild, a variety of plants and wildlife have been protected. Their habitats remain intact, and ecosystems all across the state have the opportunity to flourish.
*Many of the Forever Wild tracts are extremely popular, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year. These visitors, in turn, drive economic activity to hard hit areas in need of a boost during these hard times.
*Forever Wild expands the recreational opportunities available to the public. Hiking, biking, public hunting and fishing, birding, photography, camping, nature study, canoeing, and horseback riding are just some of the activities facilitated by Forever Wild lands.
*Forever Wild has protected more than 200,000 acres of land in all parts of the state. These purchases equate to approximately one-half of one percent of the land base in Alabama.
*To date, over 99% of the 200,000 acres purchased by Forever Wild are available to Alabama’s citizens for public use and recreation and 89% of those lands provide public hunting opportunities.
*In 2007-2008 alone, approximately 50,000 acres of private lands were withdrawn from Alabama’s Wildlife Management Area system resulting in significant loss of public hunting lands. Forever Wild has been the primary mechanism for securing lands to account for these losses.
*Alabama has the lowest percentage of public lands (4.4%) among southeastern states: FL (21.2%); VA (9.9%); NC (9%); TN (7.3%); SC (7.1%); GA (7%); KY (6.1%); MS (6%).
*The availability and proximity of public lands for outdoor recreation and tourism are quality of life and community elements that can have an impact on where some businesses and their employees choose to locate and establish their residency.
*Recent voter polling shows that support for continuing Forever Wild funding is as high, or higher, today than it was in 1992.
*A super-majority of voters across all major demographic lines support continuation of Forever Wild – Women and Men; African American and Caucasian; Democrat, Independent, and Republican; all age groups.
*Even during the current, tough economic conditions, voters still indicate at the 85% level that funding for Forever Wild should continue.
*Reauthorization of Forever Wild for another 20 years, at the same funding level, and with the same rate of land purchase, would increase public land ownership in Alabama by only one-half of one percent and Alabama would still have the lowest percentage of public land ownership of any southeastern state.
*Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Viewing in Alabama has an economic impact of $2.2 Billion annually.
*Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Viewing are significant activities on Forever Wild lands that yield economic benefits to local communities and the state.
*The economic impact of outdoor recreation and tourism expenditures in local communities where Forever Wild lands exists is estimated to replace and exceed the loss of any ad valorem tax on the lands purchased by Forever Wild.
*Forever Wild land acquisitions are credited as assets of the Alabama Trust Fund and improve Alabama’s bond rating.
*The good Forever Wild does affects not just us but future generations as well. The work Forever Wild does today helps ensure that God’s creations will still be around for our grandchildren and great grandchildren to learn from and enjoy.