Wednesday, March 25, 1981

The Herald and TTie Lantern

Pages

Saving Endangered Wildlife—A Way to Contribute

By Jane Tanaskovk In an era when many call themselves environmentalists but fewer choose to back the appellation with funding for criticallyneeded environmental programs, New Jersey citizens will be offered a painless and expedient way to protect and expand the state’s Endangered and ' ^Ion-game Species Proam. Provided, that is, they can prompt their elected representatives to tft through legislative red r tape. Assembly Bill No. 1880 would establish in the Dept, of the Treasury a special “Endangered and Nongame Species of Wildlife Conservation Fund.” Each N.J. taxpayer due a refund would have the opportunity to have a chosen portion of it deposited in the fund. THE BILL, first introduced on June 26 of last year, is still in committee. The corresponding Senate' bill, introduced three days earlier, was passed January 26. Several informed sources attributed the delay in bringing the Assembly bill to a vote to "legislative maneuvering” and speculated that a major cause was opposition from* N.J.’s Dept, of Treasury, which prefers to make appropriations from the generaL treasury. A precedent would be set if the state’s taxpayers directly determined the amount of an appropriatin for a specific program, even though they would be funding it themselves from their tax refunds. THE BUDGET for the Div. of Fish, Game and Wildlife is, in effect, already largely determined by N.J. citizens, in that the agency operates primarily on dedicated funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. With the proposed program, those citizens who value non-game wildlife

(that which is not hunted t>r taken) and who are concerned about protecting endangered and threatened species would likewise have a vehicle through which to support management and research. There are over 400 nongame species and only 52 game species in New Jersey. In 1979 the annual budget of the Div. of Pish, Game and Wildlife was $6.6 million. The Endangered and Non-game Species Conservation Act which it administers was passed by the N.J. Legislature in 1973. It called for an annual appropriation of $100,000 from the general treasury. The program has never been funded at even close to that level, however, and in 1976 it received no appropriation at all. DURING TtS eight-year history, despite a limited budget and staff, the Endangered and Non-game Species Program has monitored threatened and endangered species, and protected while breeding such species as Osprey, Black Skimmer, and Least Tern. It has coordinated New Jersey’s annual participation in the national Bald Eagle Survey. It has begun marine mammal programs and an endangered species training program. It has made recommendations to the legislature based on its research fbr additions to and deletions from the state’s threatened and endangered species list. It has been responsible for the preservation of critical wildlife habitat. It has also introduced breeding pairs of Peregrine Faldons in New Jersey, in a cooperative program with Cornell University which has received national attention. IN CAPE MAY County, Cape May Bird Observatory and the Wetlands Institute have each receiv-

Films, Slides Star Wildlife

TRENTON — Two endangered species movies and an endangered species slide show, designed to educate the public about New Jersey's endangered wildlife, have been assembled by the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Project. Both films, "Return of the Peregrine” and "Endangered Species in New Jersey", are 20 minutes in length. The slide shoe, “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got TiU It’s Gone,” is a' 20-minute narrated presentation focusing on why animals are endangered, the research and management programs of the Endangered and Nongame Species Project, and the importance of an individual’s support.

ed contracts in past years to conduct field research on threatened and endangered species for the program. Both institutions covered segments of the state for annual colonial waterbird surveys and related Least Tern and Black Skimmer projects. Cape May Bird Observatory, through its naturalist-director Peter Dunne, conducted the first statewide breeding survey of Northern Harriers (March Hawks) in 1979. (He also coordinated South Jersey effects during the annual Bald Eagle surveys.) According to Mr. Dunne, "There has been only a narrow avenue for getting access to important research in New Jersey. The tax refund program would go a long way toward broadening that avenue." ANNE GALLI, public education coordinator of the Wetlands Institute, conducted a statewide survey of Piping Plover last year. As a result of the survey the bird’s status is regarded as "of special concern.” It shares the same habitat with Black Skimmers and Least Tern, two birds which are endangered in the state largely because of habitat destruction. Ms. Galli cited the participation of local citizens as greatly enhancing the success of the survey. Unless the proposed new funding source is secured, many of these programs might be “reduced to an extent that they would no longer be effective,” according to biologist Katy Duffy of'the Div. of Fish. Game and Wildlife. She said that without it, the entire

The films and slide show are available from the Endangered and Nongame Species Project office for a $10 (per film, slide show) rental fee. School systems may also borrow the slide show from their nearest Educational Impnfvement Center (EIC). For further information contact the Endangered and Nongame Species Project office, (609)292-3795, or wirte to CN400, Trenton, 08625.

NOTICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS

Th« tol« on liitod in th* circular in todoy'v paper began on Tuesday. Thu* certain Item* may be •old out. Should thl* occur, pleate go to our tervice de*k at the front of the •tore and request a raincheck. Thank You.

budget of the Endangered and Non-Game Species Program will be reduced to $53,000 on October 1 of this year. This amount would cover only salaries for one biologist, one secretary, and either one other biologist or a few contracted projects. THE FEDERAL government previously provided matching funds for projects and personnel working with endangered species, but henceforth it will provide only' for species endangered on a national rather than on either national or state levels. The state of Colorado serves as the model for the approach to be taken in 'New Jersey. Voluntary contributions from taxpayers in Colorado during the program’s first year in 1978 amounted to $300,000; and in 1979, to $500,000. Katy Duffy estimated that in New Jersey the fund would amount to roughly $400,000, based on 200,000 taxpayers making average contributions of $2 each. ACCORDING TO an Eagleton Institute of Politics survey, 62 percent of New Jersey citizens who were questioned regarded the protection of endangered wildlife species as "very important." 73 per cent of those polled favored the concept of voluntary contributins to an Endangered and Nongame Species Wildlife Conservation Fund through the proposed tax refund checkoff, and 76 percent stated they would contribute at least $1 of their refund to the fund if the optin were included on in-

come tax fotms. According to the wording of the bills, citizens receiving refunds could designate $2, $5, or $10 for the fund if they wished. William G. Baranyay Jr., executive director of the N.J. Audubon Society, the state’s eldest private conservation organization, said that support for the bill had been marshalled from over 35 different conservation and sportsmen’s groups. "IT SHOULD pass if it comes up in the Assembly. There’s a broad spectrum of support for it." He continued, "We can run our own'program very nicely in N.J. without a great deal of

expense. Contrary to State Treasury fears it should take only $4,000 to $5,000 to put the program into effect. Once it’s ongoing, there will be nothing to administer. "Without a funding base, the present programs will all but terminate October 1,” Baranyay cautioned. He strongly urged citizens and organizations to write or cable Assembly Speaker Christopher J. Jackman, 7800 River Rd., North Bergen, IV 07047; and Majority Leader Alan J. Karcher, 61 Main St., Sayrcville, NJ 08872; ih order to get the bill “on board" for an Assembly vote.

PEOPLE AREN'T the only ones who enjoy the County * Park, Rt. 9 north of Court House; just ask the ducks.

TWO WAYS TO SAVE

DOUBLE OFFER

11 WEEK 1 COUPON 1 j WEEK 2 COLTON

6 DONUTS

FOR 89* LIMIT: 2 DOZEN

Available at all participating shops. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Take out only. One

coupon per customer.

Limit: 2 dozen Offer good: 3-2581

thru

3-31-81

DUNKIN' DONUTS

19WILDWOOO I •tvo. L

jjnooHANDt Its wortMHe trip; J (JBCOJAI^ JftwwtDtliiimp^ — JJB

50* OFF A HALF DOZEN

MUFFINS OR $1.00 OFF

A DOZEN MUFFINS

Available at all participating Dunkin' Donut shops. Offer cannot be, combined with any other offer. One coupon per customer. Limit: 2 dozen Offer good: 4-1-81 thru 4-7-81

DUNKIN'

'•"XT 0 DONUTS RtO OftANOI It's worth the trip.