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New poll: Arizonans count conservation issues so important that they might influence the 2014 elections.

A February 2014 poll, released by Colorado College’s State of the Rockies Project, found that more than two-thirds of Arizona respondents were more likely to vote for a candidate who supports enhancing protections for public lands like national forests. Nearly the same proportion of respondents feels that loss of habitat for fish and wildlife in Arizona is a serious problem.

Covering Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming and Utah, the poll has consistently found that westerners value their public lands, a love that transcends politics.

“This poll shows once again that Arizonans, whether Republican, Independent or Democrat, love our natural heritage and wild places,” noted Barbara Hawke, Executive Director of the Arizona Wilderness Coalition. “Conservation is an issue of the heart—one where we can seek common ground across political parties to address the growth challenges of our state. But we need our political leaders to make conservation a priority so that Arizona has sufficient open space for quiet recreation, wildlife and water quality,” she added.

Hawke noted that the Sonoran Desert Heritage Act, introduced by Representative Raul Grijalva in 2012, was conceived by a diverse coalition of Arizonans seeking to address a broad array of land needs.

The bill would use federal designations on Bureau of Land Manage-ment lands to better safeguard wildlife habitat, quiet recreational opportunities, open space, and archaeological resources over approximately 750,000 acres that belong to the American people. The bill is supported by Luke Air Force Base, West Valley elected officials and their communities, faith leaders, recreation groups, local developers, and conservationists.

“This legislation isn’t just good for wildlife or ecology or for people who love wilderness,” pointed out Hawke. “For many communities, wilderness can be an economic engine.” A study conducted by Arizona State University in 2011 found that human-powered recreation, such as hiking, wildlife watching, hunting, and other outdoor related recreation, generates nearly $371 million in annual state tax revenue and produces almost $5.2 billion annually in retail sales and services across Arizona. Arizona growth is estimated at three million new residents in the next 20 years. Arizona Wilderness Coalition and other conservation groups in the state are working through legislation and agency planning to protect wilderness across the state.

MORE ON THE POLL FINDINGS http://www.coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies

Arizona State University Study cited: Bavousett and O’Neill, Sustainable Economic Benefits of
Human-Powered Recreation in the State of Arizona. Arizona State University School of Sustainability, April 2011.

 

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