Birmingham, AL – A broad-based coalition is behind an effort to extend Alabama's program for purchasing and preserving public lands.
The group backing the Forever Wild program includes bird watchers and hunters, environmentalists and coal-mining companies, hikers and anglers, Alabama Power Co. and the Christian Coalition.
Forever Wild was created 20 years ago through a constitutional amendment that passed with the broad support of voters. But the program will end in 2012 without legislative action - that's why supporters are asking lawmakers to continue it during the current session.
Forever Wild has obtained more than 222,000 acres statewide on an annual budget of about $12 million a year. Virtually all that land is open to public recreation, including more than 184,000 acres where hunting is allowed.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)