Survey finds 95% support federal farmland protection
LANCASTER Despite
repeated attacks on government
“overregulation” by candidates in
the 1980 elections, a new poll of
National Wildlife Federation
members reveals that most feel
there are not enough federal en
vironmental protection laws.
Of the 38,927 NWF members who
responded to a poll appearing in
the February-March issue of
National Wildlife magazine, 62.1
percent felt that we have “too
little” environmental regulation.
Only 11.5 percent felt we have “too
much,” while 25 percent responded
that we have “just about the right
amount.”
In addition, the annual survey
showed that NWF members feel
the federal government should
play a stronger role in two other
areas-farmland protection and
population control.
An 95.2 percent
said that there should be a national
policy to protect prune farmland
(from being developed into roads,
housing areas, and other projects.
Only 2.8 percent felt there should
be no government policy, and 1.7
percent responded, “don’t know.”
Not all poll respondents answered
all questions.
On the issue of population con
trol, 58.9 percent of the respon-
PROFIT IN YOUR
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dents said that the federal
government should be involved in
limiting world population growth.
Disagreeing were 30.3 percent,
while 9.8 percent said they “don’t
know.”
Environmental regulation,
farmland protection, and
population growth were three of
eight conservation issues covered
in the survey of its members by
NWF, the nation’s largest citizens
conservation group.
The other questions concerned
public lands use, nuclear power,
land transfers, money for wildlife,
-and transportation. Respondents,
who mailed m their ballots at their
own expense, were also asked to
rank each issue as to its relative
importance.
Farmland protection was voted
as the number one priority, with
nuclear power ranking second.
Here are the questions and
answers on the eight issues,
followed by their rankings:
FARMLANDS
A million acres a year of U.S.
prune farmlands are converted to
urban, industrial, transportation
and water uses. Many experts
worry about the wisdom of paving
over any more prune, food
producing farmland when the
world population is growing faster
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Ranks as top priority
than the earth’s ability to feed
people. But a national policy to
protect farmlands might curb
industrial growth and possibily
limit suburban housing.
Should there be tougher laws
and/or financial incentives to
protect prune farmlands 7
YES: 95.2 percent, NO. 2.8
percent; DON’T KNOW: 1.7
percent.
MONEY FOR WILDLIFE
Traditionally hunters and
fishermen have supported state
wildlife programs, mainly the
game species, with license fees
and special taxes. Now, many
states are raising funds to finance
programs for nongame species
songbirds and other creatures not
taken by sportsmen. Would you
pay an additional small tax on
certain items of camping, hiking,
bird-watching and bird-feeding
equipment to support nongame
species m your area?
YES: 81.3 percent. NO: 9.8
percent. DON’T KNOW: 8 percent.
TRANSPORTATION
Federal highways are America's
largest publicly funded project.
Boosters of more highway building
say this will create more jobs and
help the whole economy. Op
ponents feel it would be wiser to
invest the $3 billion annual con-
struction budget in rail lines, bus
systems and public transportation.
In an era of limited budgets, which
approach deserves the top
priority?
MASS TRANSIT. 78.1 percent.
HIGHWAYS: 13.4 percent. DON’T
KNOW: 7.7 percent.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULAT
IONS
Many new federal laws con
trolling air and water pollution and
toxic waste dumping were passed
to safeguard the country’s en
vironmental quality. But some
people complain these en
vironmental rules are too ex
pensive and add up to
“overregulation.” They want to
repeal or relax some of these
standards Others say federal
regulations are needed more than
ever to protect us from pollution
and chemical contamination.
Do you feel we have to much
environmental regulation?
TOO MUCH; 11.5 percent. TOO
LITTLE: 62.1 percent. JUST
ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT:
25 percent.
USE OF PUBLIC LANDS
The federal government
manages vast areas of publicly
mcaster Farming, Saturday, March 21,1981—017
owned land-about 700 million acres
in the western states and Alaska.
These areas provide extensive
habitat for wildlife and have great
aesthetic and recreational values.
These lands also provide forage for
thousands of cattle and sheep, and
may contain immense reserves of
timber, oil and minerals. When
imcompatible, should grazing,
timber, oil and mineral develop
ment have priority over wildlife,
recreational and wilderness
values?
ALWAYS. 1.5 percent. NEVER:
38.2 percent. IN SOME CASES;
59.5 percent.
NUCLEAR POWER
Currently, 70 nuclear power
plants provide 12 percent of U.S.
electrical output. Supporters say
more such plants would reduce our
dependence on foreign oil, and they
contend nuclear plants pose no
more threat to human life than
conventional power sources.
Opponents worry about their
safety and also the nagging
problem ol nuclear waste disposal.
Should we build more nuclear
power plants?
"NOW"
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