Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1449393
15 A. FUNDING AND POLICY ENVIRONMENT Pheasant populations across their range are strongly influenced by federal policies impacting private agricultural lands� On an individual basis, states have limited ability to impact federal agricultural policy and establish habitat on private lands through federal conservation and commodity programs� The Commission traditionally has provided technical assistance to congressional and USDA staff as well as landowners on USDA conservation program development and implementation� The plan reinforces the need for conservation partners across the pheasant range to ensure continuation and improvement of federal conservation programs for grassland habitat and hunter access� With the decline in federal incentives for habitat conservation, direct economic gain derived from providing pheasant habitat will be reduced, and the ability to offer attractive incentives (financial or otherwise) to landowners in exchange for creating and managing habitat, falls heavily on states� However, funding for wildlife conservation is facing challenges at the state level as well� This will require investigation of new and innovative funding for habitat and access incentives� The plan highlights the importance of partnerships in carrying this load� Because pheasants inhabit agro-ecosystems, private landowner engagement, buy-in, and incentive programs will be key to plan implementation� Many conservation partners in Nebraska have strong ties to private lands, and many already have various incentive programs in place� Partnerships create opportunities that often promote cross-taxa benefits; for, example, grassland improvement for pollinators contributes to a suite of species, including pheasants� Non-traditional partnerships can capitalize on the social importance of pheasants and pheasant hunting to communities and promote the universal benefits of healthy grassland habitats� As such, the plan encourages evaluation of current and new funding opportunities for synergistic efforts between agricultural landowners, communities and conservation partners� Strategies • Foster public appreciation of the tangible links between healthy pheasant populations and the health of broader wildlife, soil, and water resources in the state • Strengthen and expand partnerships within and outside the conservation community to capitalize on the multiple societal benefits that pheasants and their habitats provide • Provide for the long-term security of current funding sources devoted to wildlife conservation • Pursue additional funding sources to increase the capacity to create and maintain habitat on public and private lands • Create and promote feasible, attractive incentives for private landowners to produce more and/or better pheasant habitat • Work with our conservation partners to ensure the federal Farm Bill provides more benefits to pheasants and other grassland wildlife