NOTE: Farmland
preservation............
This coming Wednesday, January 11th, it is
anticipated that the Monongalia County Commission will be asked to vote in favor
of including our County in the federal "farmland preservation" program, to set
up a governing board, and to approve a transfer-tax measure to fund this
program. Preston County and many others have already approved such
participation.
It is proposed that the MVCAC support this
effort, given that farmland is known to provide the essential base for naturally
clean air and water, given the common "good farming" practices of forest
preservation, grassland and wetland utility, and long term commitments to a
sustainable society. The following statement is planned for
release
this coming week. Comments are
invited; and, participation in the County Commission meeting at 10 am on January
11th is suggested.
"MVCAC" STATEMENT..............
"Farmland preservation has huge implications for achieving a
sustainable society that can last for decades, centuries, and thousands of
years. Here we are on earth, living under conditions that took hundreds of
millions of years to achieve. Yet, species extinction is occurring both
due to natural and to man-made causes, the latter of which needs to be
recognized and reversed. Also, clean air and clean water depend upon our
maintaining trees, pastures, and wetlands. The new book by H. H. Shugart
of the University of Virginia, "Tales of An Unbalanced Nature", reveals
these lessons in such a dramatic and down-to-earth manner."
Duane G. Nichols, Convenor
MonValley Clean Air Coalition
P. O. Box 4679
Morgantown, WV 26508