From The Nature Conservancy
Contact: Tracy Connell, [log in to unmask]
(703) 247-3726
Conservation is Patriotic and Has Bipartisan Support, According to New Poll
ARLINGTON, VA (July 3, 2012) -Nearing the Fourth of July in the highly
partisan atmosphere of a presidential election year, The Nature Conservancy
released a bipartisan national poll showing that at least one issue is
widely supported by Americans across the political spectrum: the
conservation of our nation's land and water. And, the bipartisan team of
pollsters note, from "Tea Party Republicans to liberal Democrats, more than
four-in-five American voters say that conserving our country's natural
resources - our land, air and water - is patriotic."
In addition, three-quarters of the American electorate says that "one of the
things our government does best" is protecting its "history and natural
beauty through national parks, forests and other public lands." Not
surprisingly, then, three-fourths of voters say they would prefer to go on
vacation this summer in a national park or other public lands.
"Many, many Americans spend the Fourth of July holiday outdoors-in a local
park, at the beach, on the water, or in a National Park," said Mark Tercek,
President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. "In effect, by our actions we
are celebrating and enjoying both the creation of our republic and the long
history of our country's commitment to conservation of our land and water.
These poll numbers revealthat the overwhelming majority of Americans still
believe in conserving ournatural resources and that this is, in fact,
patriotic."
Voters also voiced overwhelming support for a number of specific federal
policies to support conservation. Three-quarters (74 percent) of American
voters say that even with federal budget problems, funding for conservation
should not be cut. Many voters even are willing to reach into their own
pockets to fund conservation, with 83 percent - including more than
seven-in-ten voters across the political spectrum - willing to pay more in
taxes to fund protection of land, water and wildlife habitat in their area.
In fact, the overwhelming majority of American voters reject the notion that
protecting our environment is at odds with a strong economy. More than
three-quarters of voters (79 percent) believe we can protect land and water
and have a strong economy at the same time.
"Given these poll results, we are deeply concerned that public conservation
policy in our country today is departing from America's bipartisan
conservation tradition and does not reflect the current thinking of
Americans across the political spectrum. In particular, the idea that there
is inevitably a conflict between our economy and our environment is not
borne out by popular views." concluded Tercek. "The vast majority of
Americans value the many ways nature benefits them and their communities --
just as strongly as they always have."
Specifically, key findings of the poll can be found in a
<http://www.nature.org/aboutus/june-2012-public-key-findings.pdf> memo from
the pollsters. They include:
? On the eve of the national Independence Day holiday, more than
four-in-five American voters say that "conserving our country's natural
resources - our land, air and water - is patriotic." This sentiment bridges
every partisan, regional, and demographic division. For example, agreement
thatconservation is patriotic is high among.
o Democrats (89 percent agree conservation is patriotic), Independents (79
percent) and Republicans (79 percent), including Tea Party Republicans (79
percent);
o Voters who are undecided and up for grabs in the presidential election
(93 percent) and those in the eight most contested "battleground" states (83
percent);
o The youngest voters under age 35 (84 percent) and voters age 65 and
older (83 percent);
o Urban residents (79 percent), suburbanites (85 percent) and rural
residents (82 percent);
o Hunters (79 percent), anglers (80 percent), and bird and wildlife
watchers (82 percent);
o Hikers (80 percent), mountain bikers (78 percent), and ATV users (77
percent); and
o More thanseven-in-ten voters in every region of the country agree that
conservation is patriotic..
? Three-quarters of the electorate believes that public lands are one
of the things government "does best." Even focusing in on the role of
government at a time of heightened cynicism about government as an
institution, voters overwhelmingly say that public lands are evidence of an
area of positive federal contribution. Fully 77 percent agree that "One of
the things our government does best is to protect and preserve our national
history and natural beauty through national parks, forests, and other public
lands," with 39 percent strongly in agreement. Three-quarters of Republicans
(76 percent), nearly the same number of Democrats (70 percent) and the vast
majority of Independents (82 percent) agree with this view.
? Underlying some of this support and willingness to pay may be a
sense that there are economic benefits to conservation. Voters are twice as
likely to say that protections for land, air, water and wildlife have a
positive impact on jobs (41 percent), than a negative impact (17 percent),
or little impact one way or the other (33 percent). More voters view
conservation as having a positive impact than a negative impact in every
region of the country, including in the Western U.S. where there are
significant holdings of public lands (and where 43 percent see a positive
economic impact, versus just 21 percent negative). Not surprisingly, those
who do participate in outdoor recreation of one sort oranother are much more
likely to perceive an economic benefit to protections of land, water and
wildlife than those who are not engaging in these outdoor activities.
? In fact, public lands such as some of the iconic national parks,
are far preferred in Americans' summer vacation plans over major American
cities. Three times as many voters say they would prefer a vacation this
summer in "a national park or other public lands like the Grand Canyon or
Great Smoky Mountains" (70 percent. Americans of every age and region of
the country, and irrespective of whether they engage in outdoor recreation
or not, are more likely to prefer enjoying some time off on public lands.
? Voters validate their support for conservation by strongly backing
specific policies. For example,voters firmly back a federal policy to
dedicate funding toward conservation. More than four-in-five American voters
(82 percent) support ensuring that a "portion of federal offshore drilling
fees already being paid by oil and gas companies is dedicated to the Land
and Water Conservation Fund, which was created by Congress so that these
fees could be used for conserving natural areas, wildlife, and clean water
and providing access to outdoor recreation throughout the country."
? Three-quarters say that even with federal budget problems, funding
for conservation should notbe cut. Fully 74 percent agree that "even with
federal budget problems, funding to safeguard land, air and water should not
be cut," including a majority of voters across the partisan spectrum and
two-thirds or greater in every region of the country.
? Voters are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Fully
83 percent are willing to pay additional taxes to protect American land,
water and wildlife.When provided with a range of dollar amounts to pay in
increased taxes, the vast majority of voters are willing to pay some amount
more, including 72 percent of Tea Party Republicans, 73 percent of
self-describedconservatives, 88 percent of moderates, and 94 percent of
self-described liberals.
? The overwhelming majority of American voters rejectthe notion that
protecting our environment is at odds with a strong economy. While voters
express a high degree of concern about the economy (80 percent characterize
it as an extremely or very serious problem in their area), they do not view
strengthening the economy as being in conflict with conservation. More than
three-quarters of voters (79 percent) believe we can protect land and water
and have a strong economy at the same time.
"Overall, it is clear that conservation is an issue that more often unites,
rather than divides, the American people," said David Metz, pollster from
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D). Lori Weigel from Public
Opinion Strategies (R) added, "Whether it is a general sense of patriotism
and pride in national parks, or support for several specific federal
policies, the survey finds a great deal in common among Americans
regardingtheir views on conservation."
The national survey of voters was conducted by the bipartisan research team
of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin,Metz & Associates (D) and Public Opinion
Strategies (R) from June 16-19 at the request of The Nature Conservancy. FM3
and POS completed 800 telephone interviews with registered voters nationally
who are likely to cast ballots in the 2012 election. Interviews were
conducted on landlines and cell phones. The margin of sampling error for the
full sample is +/-3.46 percent; margins ofsampling error for subgroups
within the sample will be larger. Some percentages may sum to more than 100
percent due to rounding.
###
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]
Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp