RESOURCE PLANNING

What to do about Missouri's biodiversity may not be high on any list of concerns for most of the state's residents. But there is a small -- and vocal -- group that sees something sinister in the effort to identify the natural resources of the state and to develop plans to both maintain that diversity and make use of it in constructive ways.

Several state and federal agencies -- the Department of Conservation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Services, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service -- are involved in a project that began in 1992. The state was divided into 10 areas, each sharing natural resources, and plans are being developed for each area. The first region on the list is the Lower Ozark Region, which includes most of the woodlands area of Southeast Missouri.

Throughout the process, public input has been sought at meetings held around the region. Several hundred people have participated in these meetings. Some of them have suggested ideas that would create more jobs and better use of the habitat, animals and plants that are found in the area. Others have expressed concerns about government interference and control over how resources are used.

The latter group includes those who see any government planning as part of a much bigger plot. Some even view this attempt at coordinated resource management as part of a sinister, worldwide, one-government scheme that involves the United Nations, the Trilateral Commission, world bankers, black helicopters and armed troops in blue berets.

As a matter of fact, a recent meeting at Marble Hill that attracted about 100 landowners produced some scary scenarios of how the roots of America's freedom are supposedly being undermined by the statewide planning effort.

More reasonable folks, however, are waiting to see what the planners come up with in an effort to maintain, improve and protect ecosystems and natural resources in the 10 areas of Missouri. Along the way, many of these same folks are offering ideas and suggestions. Based on preliminary work, a draft plan will be discussed at meetings to be held around the area. Residents again will have an opportunity to have their say.

As long as the rights of private property owners are respected and government guides the process rather than interferes in the lives of Missourians, the planning process deserves attention and participation from the state's landowners.

There may be problems with the plan. If there are, these problems should be clearly identified and corrected. But making wild claims that U.N. troops will force landowners to turn over their property as a result of this planning doesn't address real concerns.