Fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust

Iowans overwhelmingly supported the creation of the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund and today, 81 percent of us continue to support it.

Regrettably, though constitutionally mandated, the trust lies empty, as legislators have not seen fit to fund it.

The environmental challenges Iowa faces must provoke a shift in consciousness that engages us all in the work of turning from 'business as usual,” toward a sustainable and ecologically responsible coexistence with our natural surroundings.

Not only must we protect the environmental integrity of what remains of Iowa's open spaces and wild places, but we must enhance and rejuvenate what human activity has helped to degrade.

Consider the following:

' Roughly half Iowa's rivers, lakes and streams fail to meet water quality standards

' Less than 10 percent of Iowa's wetlands remain, which translates to a loss of over 5 million acres

' Iowa loses an average of 5 tons of soil per acre each year to erosion

' Since 1990, the habitat loss in Iowa is equal to a strip of land from east to west that is 9 miles wide

' Iowa has lost over 80 percent of its woodlands, more than 100 species of wildlife and 99.9 percent of its prairies since settlement in the early 1800s

' Iowa is 47th of 50 states in conservation spending

' Over the last two decades, Iowa has lost more than 1.6 million acres of habitat suitable for ground birds and other small creatures.

Iowans continue to support funding of this important initiative.

The estimated revenue would amount to $150-180 million each year and would fund a well-documented package of conservation projects including water quality improvement, lake restoration, flood protection enhancement, conservation project partnerships with private land owners, improvement and enhancement of parks, wildlife habitat, nature preserves and natural areas.

Our legislators must be encouraged to fund this initiative.

It is no longer enough for them to politely tell us they will keep our thoughts in mind should this issue come up. They must actively work together and have the forethought to bring it to the forefront of the legislative agenda and get it financed.

Roughly 130 organizations signed on supporting the amendment. It is within our means to shape Iowa's environmental future; Iowans have expressed the will to stop the unraveling of our ecosystems and now legislators must finance what we, the people have stated is a priority.

It's necessary, we know what to do and how to do it. We have the means to carry out a well thought-out plan of attack and it is time for our legislators to act.

' Kevin Burke is President of Alliant Transportation. Cindy Burke is a small business owner, board member of Linn County Conservation and associate member of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Cindy and Kevin were founding Board Members of Matsell Area Preservation and Protection and have placed their rural family property in permanent and perpetual conservation easement. Comments: kevburke@netins.net