02-16-2007, 04:20 PM
[font "Arial"]Contact: Mark Marraccini [/font] [font "Arial"]1-800-852-0942, ext. 310[/font]
[font "Arial"]Frankfort, Ky. –[/font][font "Arial"] More than 300 sportsmen, sportswomen, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts wearing bright orange caps or vests joined Governor Ernie Fletcher today at the capitol in a show of support for legislation that will encourage private landowners to voluntarily enter into conservation easements or provide public access to private property for fishing, hunting and wildlife recreation.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“It’s great to see all of you here in your hunter’s orange,” said Governor Fletcher, stepping to the front. “House Bill 354 is a very high-impact, low-cost way to achieve a dramatic increase in land conservation and access to wildlife recreation.” [/font]
[font "Arial"]The governor was joined by bill sponsors Representatives Robin Webb, Steve Rudy, and Brad Montell, and Senators Gary Tapp and Katie Stine.[/font]
[font "Arial"]Bill supporters filled the capitol’s rotunda and interrupted the governor’s brief address, as well as those from the bill’s sponsors and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, with applause several times. [/font]
[font "Arial"]HB 354 would protect lands by providing conservation easements to individuals and businesses in exchange for state income tax credits to be awarded under the supervision of the department. It also provides for public recreational access to these lands in return for additional tax credits.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“This is the most important piece of conservation legislation that you will see in your lifetimes,” Gassett told the group.[/font]
[font "Arial"] The legislation addresses Kentucky’s shortage of convenient and accessible land for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird-watching and nature viewing. In Kentucky, public land for fishing and wildlife recreation is limited, with approximately 94 percent of Kentucky land privately owned. [/font]
[font "Arial"]This shortage is often cited as a reason for why these activities are limited or abandoned. The legislation is also intended to ensure that land for wildlife recreation will always be available in areas near urban centers.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“This legislation permits land to remain in private ownership and management while providing tax credits based on the value and duration of the easement,” Fletcher told the crowd.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“This is a great piece of legislation that will expand opportunities for hunters, anglers and all others who enjoy wildlife across the state,” said Sen. Tapp.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“Access is one of the biggest issues facing sportsmen and sportswomen today,” said Rep. Webb. “This legislation will provide incentives for landowners to open their lands to nature enthusiasts everywhere.“ [/font]
[font "Arial"]More than 1.5 million Kentuckians and about 287,000 nonresident visitors engage in hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing each year within Kentucky’s borders. This activity generates $3.2 billion in annual economic impact. [/font]
[font "Arial"]“Opening up more land for the public’s use will provide more economic development opportunities,” said Fletcher. “As Kentucky competes to attract business and industry, the professional workforce that follows demands high-quality outdoor recreation areas where they live and work.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“Conserving land — especially in KY’s urban centers — for outdoor recreation is a critical public investment to satisfy these needs and this legislation seeks to ensure land in or near our cities is available,” he said.[/font]
[font "Arial"][/font]
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. KDFWR, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion annually. For more information on KDFWR, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov
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[font "Arial"]Frankfort, Ky. –[/font][font "Arial"] More than 300 sportsmen, sportswomen, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts wearing bright orange caps or vests joined Governor Ernie Fletcher today at the capitol in a show of support for legislation that will encourage private landowners to voluntarily enter into conservation easements or provide public access to private property for fishing, hunting and wildlife recreation.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“It’s great to see all of you here in your hunter’s orange,” said Governor Fletcher, stepping to the front. “House Bill 354 is a very high-impact, low-cost way to achieve a dramatic increase in land conservation and access to wildlife recreation.” [/font]
[font "Arial"]The governor was joined by bill sponsors Representatives Robin Webb, Steve Rudy, and Brad Montell, and Senators Gary Tapp and Katie Stine.[/font]
[font "Arial"]Bill supporters filled the capitol’s rotunda and interrupted the governor’s brief address, as well as those from the bill’s sponsors and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, with applause several times. [/font]
[font "Arial"]HB 354 would protect lands by providing conservation easements to individuals and businesses in exchange for state income tax credits to be awarded under the supervision of the department. It also provides for public recreational access to these lands in return for additional tax credits.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“This is the most important piece of conservation legislation that you will see in your lifetimes,” Gassett told the group.[/font]
[font "Arial"] The legislation addresses Kentucky’s shortage of convenient and accessible land for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird-watching and nature viewing. In Kentucky, public land for fishing and wildlife recreation is limited, with approximately 94 percent of Kentucky land privately owned. [/font]
[font "Arial"]This shortage is often cited as a reason for why these activities are limited or abandoned. The legislation is also intended to ensure that land for wildlife recreation will always be available in areas near urban centers.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“This legislation permits land to remain in private ownership and management while providing tax credits based on the value and duration of the easement,” Fletcher told the crowd.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“This is a great piece of legislation that will expand opportunities for hunters, anglers and all others who enjoy wildlife across the state,” said Sen. Tapp.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“Access is one of the biggest issues facing sportsmen and sportswomen today,” said Rep. Webb. “This legislation will provide incentives for landowners to open their lands to nature enthusiasts everywhere.“ [/font]
[font "Arial"]More than 1.5 million Kentuckians and about 287,000 nonresident visitors engage in hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing each year within Kentucky’s borders. This activity generates $3.2 billion in annual economic impact. [/font]
[font "Arial"]“Opening up more land for the public’s use will provide more economic development opportunities,” said Fletcher. “As Kentucky competes to attract business and industry, the professional workforce that follows demands high-quality outdoor recreation areas where they live and work.[/font]
[font "Arial"]“Conserving land — especially in KY’s urban centers — for outdoor recreation is a critical public investment to satisfy these needs and this legislation seeks to ensure land in or near our cities is available,” he said.[/font]
[font "Arial"][/font]
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. KDFWR, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion annually. For more information on KDFWR, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov
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