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Because biodiversity weaves through so many issues, it is hard to single out only a few that will make the biggest difference, but here's a sampling of policies that really affect habitat and species.
- Expand public purchase of land and development rights for threatened habitat. As Will Rogers said, "Buy land, they're not making any more of it." Public lands aren't the entire answer, especially in the East, but they are certainly a big piece of the solution. Programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund will provide critical funds to prevent lands from being developed, as will bond programs from Maine to California.
- Establish new Wilderness Areas. Wilderness provides a safe haven for biodiversity, especially when wilderness areas include river valleys and other high quality habitat. Again, Wilderness isn't the only solution, but an essential piece of large-landscape ecosystem protection.
- Shift transportation funding away from new highways and towards maintenance and public transportation. New highways promote sprawl and destroy habitat. High quality public transportation saves energy, land, and fights sprawl.
- End public subsidies for commercial uses--logging, mining, grazing--of public lands. These subsidies waste taxpayer dollars and despoil lands we depend on for recreation, clean water and clean air.
- Support women's empowerment and funding for international family planning programs. Burgeoning human population increases are straining natural resources and destroying habitat. To a large extent these increases are related to inequitable social conditions and gender relations-- reproductive freedom and economic opportunities for women are basic human rights and the building blocks for stable and sustainable population levels.
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