Environmental Defense Applauds "Working Lands" Bill

Environmental Defense today praised Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and 53 other bipartisan members of Congress for introducing legislation late yesterday to reward farmers, ranchers and private foresters when they preserve open space, improve water quality, or restore habitat for rare species.

The Working Lands Stewardship Act of 2001 dramatically expands voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that acquire development rights on farmland threatened by sprawl, provides incentives to reduce polluted runoff, and rewards landowners who restore wetlands, grasslands, and forests.

"This bill will ensure that farmers, ranchers and foresters who help meet environmental challenges are rewarded," said Environmental Defense attorney Scott Faber.

The Working Lands Stewardship Act provides $500 million annually for open space protection; $2 billion annually for incentives to reduce polluted runoff, protect food and drinking water from pesticides and pathogens, and use water more efficiently; and $750 million annually for farm, ranch and forestry practices that help wildlife. The bill also provides sufficient funds to restore more than 12 million acres of wetlands, grasslands, and shrublands over the next six years.

The bill also boosts funding to plant trees along urban rivers, establish new farmer's markets, and to help farmers switch to organic farming.