The Federal Duck Stamp Act was passed in 1934 by President Herbert Hoover. It was help acquire and protect the nation's wetlands. It was viewed as a vital support to "The Migratory Bird Conservation Act" of 1929.
Help Heal the Gulf Coast Wetlands (click title to entry - thank you)
July 28, 2010
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar unveiled a special edition Federal Duck Stamp envelope known as a silk cachet, that hunters, stamp collectors and other conservationists can purchase for $25 -- or $10 more than the cost of a regular Duck Stamp -- to help conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. The funds will be used to acquire wetlands for inclusion in the more than thirty-eight national wildlife refuges along the Gulf Coast.
All this started due to The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (click here) which is an international treaty.
At any rate, the Duck Stamp is an interesting activity of the Interior Department. It costs $15.00 a year and the cost hasn't been raised for 20 years. When one considers the increase to the Postal Service stamps and just cost of living in general, the Duck Stamp is a real bargain.
I personally believe it is time to raise the cost of the Duck Stamp. The 'depreciation' of the effect of this stamp only speaks to the lack of commitment the citizens of the USA show toward their wetlands and wildlife. I would think an increase of five to ten dollars annually would be appropriate.
I have no doubt people will ridicule the issue of this 'special silk cache' as BP is suppose to be paying for every detail of the Gulf restoration. Well, reality in the long run will dictate otherwise. When one considers that BP will be receiving a federal subsidy in the way of tax breaks due to the tune of about $10.5 billion this year alone due to loss of income, or better said increase in operating costs; the real payors to the $20 billion trust fund will be the American Taxpayer.
This special edition of The Duck Stamp will provide a good way to improve the funding to the Gulf Coast States as a permanent form of income. I am sure there is no limit on the issue, so sales will go on for some time.
As we have witnessed with the Gulf Coast disaster, the coastal wetlands are vital to the nation's national security as a food source and place of commerce such as tourism. Not funding wetland preservation is a folly the nation should avoid.
I find the Special Edition unique and quite beautiful. A real addition to Duck Stamp Collectors. Thank you to the Department of the Interior. Very nice.
