True conservation or land grab?

BROKEN BOW - No doubt you’ve heard about Presidential Executive Order 14008, though you may be hearing about it by different names. “30x30” is one of the most common. “Land grab” is another.

30x30 references the section that states 30 percent of the nation’s land will be placed in conservation by 2030.

30x30 is the reason nearly 100 concerned citizens attended the Custer County Supervisors meeting April 13.

There are many questions surrounding this part of the order. For example:

• Who will make the decision on what land is to be placed in conservation?

• Will this be done on a strict volunteer basis or will the federal government declare eminent domain?

• If nearly 30 percent of a county’s land is taken off the property tax roster, how does a county make up that tax revenue?

• Will the percentages be spread evenly from state to state, i.e., or will some states be expected to give up more?

And there is one overriding question that many are asking in Nebraska: Who can better care for the land - the Federal government or the families who have farmed and ranched the same acres for generations?

In the coming weeks, the Chief will publish a series of articles on easements, property tax ramifications and other topics related to 30x30. This is to help all of us understand it and its potential effects, to be informed enough to answer questions that are asked and in turn, be able to ask a few of our own.

This week, we begin with some of what the Executive Order 14008 contains.

Executive Order 14008

On Jan. 27, 2021, President Joe Biden signed “Executive Order of Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” When printed from the White House Briefing Room’s webpage, the Executive Order (EO) is 41 pages.

30x30 is introduced on page 25, Section 216. Slightly paraphrased, it reads: “The Secretary of the Interior...and the heads of other relevant agencies, shall... recommend steps that the United States should take, working with State, local, Tribal, and territorial government, agricultural and forest landowners, fishermen, and other key stakeholders, to achieve the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.”

The next paragraph is much the same, ending with “identifying strategies that will encourage broad participation in the goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.”

Bear with me for one more paragraph.

“The Secretary of Agriculture shall initiate efforts in the first 60 days from the date of this order to collect input from Tribes, farmers, ranchers, forest owners, conservation groups, firefighters, and other stakeholders on how best to use Department of Agriculture programs, funding and financial capacities, and other authorities, and how to encourage the voluntary adoption of climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices that decrease wildfire risk fueled by climate change...”

To the Custer County Chief’s knowledge, no local landowners, government officials or citizens have been called upon to offer input.

Reports

Under “Use of the Federal Government’s Buying Power and Real Property and Asset Management,” the EO requests a plan on “aligning the management of Federal procurement and real property, public lands and waters, and financial programs to support robust climate action” and, “if necessary, the plan shall recommend any additional legislation to accomplish these objectives.” The plan is to be submitted within 90 days of the signing of the EO,

Ninety days is April 27. Therefore it is likely that we will be seeing much more about “30x30” in both local, state and national news in the coming days.

A little more info

According to an online article published by the Holt County Independent 12 percent (272 million acres) of the United States’ 2.27 billion acres are already permanently protected in their natural state. This includes parks, wilderness areas, permanent conservation easements, wildlife refuges and more. To reach 30 percent (681 million acres), an additional 409 million acres would be needed.

Local impact

At the April 13 supervisors meeting, Custer County Attorney Steve Bowers was asked to draft a resolution in response of 30x30 to protect the rights of land owners in the county. It has been requested that the resolution be very specific.

“It is concerning that the language is so vague in this Executive Order,” Sally Hircock-Schuett told the Chief in a later interview.

Hircock-Schuett is originally from Custer County and now resides in Merrick County. She was one of the many who spoke at the April 13 meeting and iden

tifies herself as a farmer/rancher, landowner, concerned taxpayer and agricultural advocate.

“My goal is to have a resolution in every one of our counties,” she said. “Then send them to everyone named in the Executive Order, to the President, to the Governor, and to our representatives in Washington. We’ll send them to D.C. to tell them the grassroots doesn’t want this.”

Governor Ricketts

On Feb. 22, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts joined 16 other governors in sending a request to President Biden to withdraw the EO.

On. Feb. 23, Ricketts released a statement saying, in part, “Nebraska farmers and ranchers are our state’s original conservationists. They work day in and day out to cultivate the land and manage water they’ve known for generation in a way that helps grow our state...Nebraskans should be on the lookout in their communities for attempts by federal agencies and their partners to regulate land and water use.”

What to do now

The advise that Hircock-Shuett and others give is to learn about 30x30. “People need to be informed,” she said. “They need factual information.”

Citizens can plan to attend the next county supervisor’s meeting April 27 to voice their concerns. Debbie Sorensen of Hamilton and Custer County spoke at the April 13 meeting, saying, “I am a fourth generation landowner here to protect the fifth generation.”

We here at the Chief will continue to roll out our series on 30x30. We will work to bring information to you in an understandable fashion in less than 41 pages.

If you have questions email them to chiefnews@custercountychief.com. If you would like to write a Letter to the Editor, send it to the same address using the policy on page A2.

Look for another article in the series on 30x30 in next week’s issue of the Custer County Chief.