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Slash and Burn Budget Threatens Farmland, Wildlife Habitat

Tim Male, Defenders of Wildlife

Wetlands and farmland provide vital habitat for otters, ducks and endangered species such as bog turtles. These special places are also essential for clean water and food production.

Why would Congress cut funding to protect these vital areas?

Call your Senators at (202) 224-3121 and deliver this simple message:

My name is [Your Name] and I’m calling from [Your Town]. As a constituent, I strongly oppose cuts to conservation programs funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These programs protect farmland, wetlands and grasslands that we can’t afford to lose.

We’ll be tracking calls closely, so please let us know that you took action.

The House-passed 2012 budget bill cuts mandatory farm bill conservation funding by $1 billion; this in addition to $500 million that was cut in the fiscal year 2011 spendning bill.

While we recognize that some funding cuts will be necessary to reduce the federal deficit, there are other ways to cut spending without disproportionately targeting these crucial and effective programs.

Help us make sure the Senate doesn’t follow the House’s lead.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s conservation programs provide essential services. They…

Protect our working farms and ranches—every minute we’ve been losing more than one acre of farmland.
Improve the environment—well-managed farmland is critical to protecting natural resources, improving water quality, cleaning our air and providing habitat for wildlife.
Help feed a growing population—the world's population is projected to reach more than 10 billion by the end of the century. Without conservation to steward our precious natural resources we will struggle to feed everyone.

Yet, the House of Representatives has passed legislation that would gut these vital conservation programs.

We need to draw the line in the Senate and tell lawmakers: Hands off key conservation programs.

More than 250,000 acres of wetlands were protected in FY 2010 through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), one of the programs that the House has targeted for cuts.

These conservation programs also benefit endangered and threatened species such as the sage grouse and kit fox by protecting habitat. And many bird species, such as the sandhill crane, depend on these wetlands and benefit when these areas are restored through farm bill conservation funding.

Help protect habitat. Help protect wildlife. Please call now.

With Gratitude,