Wildlife Mississippi applauds the recent announcement by the Bush Administration which proposed legislation to increase conservation funding by $7.8 billion; this is almost three times the existing funds.

According to Billy Van Devender, the President of Wildlife Mississippi, "Wildlife Mississippi has placed a high priority on making sure that Mississippi landowners have available a variety of conservation programs to meet their needs. President Bush's Farm Bill proposal, if adopted by the Congress, could result in one of the greatest pieces of conservation legislation since the bi-partisan efforts of the 1970s."

Specifically, the proposed legislation will provide $1.6 billion in new funding for renewable energy research, development and production, targeted for cellulosic (from trees) ethanol, which will support $2.1 million in guaranteed loans for cellulosic projects and includes $500 million for a bio-energy and bio-based product research initiative.

The proposal also combines the Healthy Forests Reserve Program and the Grasslands Reserve Program into a new "Private Lands Protection Program." The proposed funding for these programs is $900 million greater than the funded levels in the previous Farm Bill. Mississippi is currently one of three states in the Nation participating in the Healthy Forests Reserve Program.

The acreage available for the Wetland Reserve Program has increased from an average of 150,000 acres per year to 250,000 acres per year. Mississippi is one of the top three states in the Nation that receive the most funding for the Wetland Reserve Program.

The acreage for the Conservation Reserve Program will remain the same, which is 39 million acres. Mississippi has one million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which is one-third of the acreage in the South.

The Bush Administration is also to be commended for proposing a new $175 million Regional Water Enhancement Program. Part of its purpose is to improve water quality in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It is obvious that President Bush cares passionately about fish, wildlife, trees and the land. We are glad he is putting some common sense in fish and wildlife conservation for the good of our waters, fields, forests and the wildlife that reside there," continued Van Devender.

I am also especially pleased that this Farm Bill is reform-minded, ensures that a safety net exists for our farmers and provides financial support for those most in need. This is needed to maintain a strong quality of life in rural Mississippi.

President Bush is to be commended for this superb conservation proposal. Also to be recognized is his excellent staff that drafted the proposal. These people include Hunter Moorhead, David Anderson, Mark Keenum, Mark Rey, Greg Schildwachter, Arlen Lancaster and James Connoughton. Our Nation is fortunate to have the fine service of these dedicated public servants.