What an interesting idea.   Definitely will get the environmentalist folks in an uproar.   Obviously the GOP is listening to landowners impacted by the ownership of federal lands in their areas.   Definitely this will stir the pot about property rights issues.    Comments anyone?

One of the items on the agenda during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week will be a little-heeded vote by delegates on the Republican Party platform.

Last week, the platform committee included in its final draft of the platform an amendment calling for Congress to hand over federal lands to states immediately.

The committee vote was close, suggesting that the issue is contentious even among Republican leaders, many of whom are sportsmen and see the value to wildlife of federally protected land.

Opponents of turning over millions of acres to the states contend that many states, in a quest for revenue or for ideological reasons, will be tempted to sell off chunks of public land for a windfall. Privatization usually means that conservation is assigned a priority below that of profit.

Ohio’s Wayne National Forest comprises about 240,000 acres of federally owned land and a total proclamation boundary of about 832,000 across three large segments of the Appalachian Plateau in southeastern Ohio designated as the Athens Unit, the Marietta unit and the Ironton Unit.

Wayne has trails, hunting and fishing areas, and surrounds or abuts a number of state parks and wildlife areas. The national forest was pieced together to reclaim woodlands after decades of agriculture and timber-cutting had taken a toll in soil degradation and erosion.

Whether Wayne would be handed over to Ohio if the federal land plank in the GOP platform becomes law remains questionable, although bills have been introduced by a few congressional Republicans that would start handing over land. At any rate, conservation groups aren’t happy the Republicans are adding to their threat by making the issue part of their party platform.

Though he didn’t offer details, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers president and CEO Land Tawney said the proposal, if implemented, “would have severe repercussions for our cherished landscapes, the fish and wildlife that inhabit them, and the outdoor opportunities enjoyed by millions.”

Bipartisan plan

A bill that would direct $1.3 billion annually from federal oil and gas royalties to the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program was introduced into the U.S. House last week by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).

The money would be passed on to states, whose conservation efforts typically are cash-strapped, for specific projects that qualify for funds.

Introduction of the bill is no guarantee of its passage. Similar conservation funding from gas and oil royalties was allowed to lapse this year.

A panel of representatives from Ducks Unlimited, Bass Pro Shops and two dozen business and conservation groups recommended introduction of the legislation, known as Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2016.