Date: 2/13/25 8:16 am From: Ann Robertson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Conservation Access Pass Proposed by NCWRC
Dear Carolinabirders,
In this morning's Coastal Review, I read about an exciting proposal from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to offer a "Conservation Access Pass". This would be the birder equivalent of a hunting / fishing license, and would renew annually. The pass would provide entry to 2 million acres of gameland, boating access areas, and more. It is not limited to birders; a range of recreational uses are mentioned
There are three public meetings across the state, coming up soon. There's also a VIRTUAL meeting on March 4th, for which you may register.
I was told a while back by a politically experienced birder that one reason birders don't carry as much weight with state officials as hunters is that we don't contribute to the public till with special taxes, licenses, etc. Apparently, at one time a "birders' tax" was proposed on items such as binoculars, birdseed, etc., that would have fed into conservation. Our flock apparently did not endorse this, sadly.
