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request for information

To All,
This is a post I received from Cindy Hildebrand, central Iowa. Since she
is not on this list she asked me to post it for her.
Thank you very much.
MJ
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I would appreciate hearing from people in prairie states, especially
states other than Iowa, who can tell me how those states are coping (or
not coping) with the federal tree-planting requirement for CRP marginal
pastureland enrolled as riparian buffers.   Since some marginal pastures
are never-plowed tallgrass prairie remnants, this requirement is forcing
some landowners to damage or destroy remnants of a globally-endangered
ecosystem in order to qualify for the CRP.

These unnecessary woody plantings also waste public and private money,
destroy habitat for already-declining prairie wildlife, and cause
unnecessary herbicide use near water.

In Iowa, the Soil Conservation Technical Committee has commendably
adopted state rules that significantly soften the prairie-destroying
effects of the federal requirement.   But Iowa can't overturn or ignore
the requirement, and it is still a problem.   I've heard reports that it
is also causing problems in Wisconsin, Missouri, and other prairie
states.

Any information, contacts or suggestions for contacts would be much
appreciated.   I am working to organize a discussion on this topic for
the North American Prairie Conference in July.

I am interested in information and viewpoints from a variety of people,
including private landowners, agency staff members, and prairie
advocates.    I am a prairie restoration and reconstruction volunteer, a
private landowner, and an active member of  the Iowa Prairie Network.
I'm also having to deal with this requirement personally, on behalf of a
few other landowners.

I would appreciate getting direct responses to me only, rather than
responses to the listserve.   And please don't mind if it takes several
days for me to respond to responders.    I have a broken arm, and can
read email faster than I can write it.

Thanks very much!

Cindy Hildebrand
grantridge@aol.com
Ames, IA

***

--
"Doubt and skepticism are for most people unusual and, I think,
generally unstable states of mind." Robert H. Thouless as quoted by E.O.
Wilson, Diversity of Life

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