11/08/07 Protecting Idaho's open spaces, part 2

A group of farmers, ranchers and conservationists are working together to protect Idaho's scenic beauty. They will be urging the state legislature to pass incentives before more land and views are lost forever. WASHBURN "So its time for policy makers to step forth and start protecting some of those natural resources which are largely in private lands in Idaho." Courtney Washburn of the Idaho Conservation League says incentives help insure that working lands remain working. Nate Helm with Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife Idaho supports incentives. HELM "A lot of the game that we find so valuable relies on private lands." Nature Conservancy's Will Whelan says tax credits for landowners who set aside valuable ranch, farm and forest lands benefit everyone. WHELAN "Keep it open, to provide the wildlife benefits and water quality benefits and in exchange they would receive as an income tax credit half of the value of their donation." These conservation and sporting folks joined ag producers two years ago in an effort to preserve open spaces. They went to the legislature last year but pulled the bill so more work could be done on their proposal. They plan to go back to the legislature again in a couple of months to ask lawmakers to offer incentives to keep Idaho open spaces just that, open. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott