29 



That is really unfair. It is unfortunate because there are many 

 local areas perhaps where the States are not as aggressive and we 

 could go after funding and could contribute to the success of pre- 

 serving very valuable wetlands. So that would be my only observa- 

 tion and kind of question, and again thanking each of you for your 

 personal support and .he support of your organizations in both the 

 Migratory Bird Commission and the North American Wetlands 

 Conservation Program. Thank you. 



Mr. Studds. I thank the gentleman. The gentlewoman from Ar- 

 kansas. 



Ms. Lambert. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, have been ex- 

 tremely supportive of the work that has been accomplished and 

 want to applaud you all for what you do here in Washington. When 

 we legislate laws and hand things down, they are certainly not pro- 

 ductive to the end goal unless there are people like yourself, groups 

 likes yourself who are willing to get out there and make it work, 

 and that has happened here. You all have had the willingness and 

 the wherewithal to get out and make the program work. 



My district has been the beneficiary, in that sense, because I do 

 have over 3,000 acres that are enrolled in these joint projects. As 

 a new Member of Congress, I am extremely pleased to see the pub- 

 lic and private partnership because I think that is a real important 

 aspect of the longevity of this program and being able to keep that 

 going. 



I do have an awful lot of hunters and outdoorsmen in my district 

 who are very interested in the preservation of the wintering habi- 

 tat for waterfowl, but you will be surprised and amazed to know 

 there are also those when we were able to create the largest timber 

 and hardwood bottom land wetland in North America in my dis- 

 trict, that there are also those that are glad to know that it is a 

 breeding habitat for the neotropical songbirds as well. So we are 

 somewhat diversified in Arkansas. We try to be anyway. 



One of my concerns, and I would certainly like to ask your com- 

 ments on this, as we talk about the long term, and I know Mr. 

 Dennis mentioned long-term conservation, ways that we can pro- 

 tect the capabilities for that long-term conservation program. These 

 projects are extremely valuable. 



We are also finding, too, that Federal dollars are farther and 

 fewer around these parts, and looking at other ways that we can 

 interact with this program and the projects you have already devel- 

 oped. 



Along those lines, I would like to get some of your comments 

 about the impact of the two USD A programs out there, the con- 

 servation reserve program, and the wetlands reserve program; 

 what contributions they have made, what impacts they have had 

 in creating habitat for waterfowl, and if you have any comments 

 on that in terms of perhaps long-term conservation. 



Mr. Gary Taylor. If I might, I will start. 



First of all, I think that the successes of those programs are re- 

 flective of the value of other than just long-term easements. There 

 is no question that in many cases the preferable means of protect- 

 ing or conserving these habitats would be through acquisition or 

 long-term easements, but there are also opportunities that present 

 themselves or there are habitats or circumstances where shorter 



