BASSETT — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission sent a message to Sandhills ranchers Wednesday that they’re not in partnership with a Lincoln-based conservation group called the Grassland Foundation.

In a unanimous vote, the eight commissioners passed a resolution that disassociated the agency from a written report produced by the foundation titled “Economic Benefits of Grassland Protected Areas.”

A chapter of the report — “Buying Arthur County” — has apparently riled some private ranchers who oppose the idea of the government buying their land to turn it into a wildlife preserve.

Jim Douglas, administrator of the commission’s wildlife division, said his staff reported that some landowners have confused the report with the commission’s Nebraska Natural Legacy Project.

The project, launched last year, is the most comprehensive effort in the state’s history to conserve wild fish, animals and plants. Because about 97 percent of Nebraska is privately owned, voluntary, incentive-based participation from landowners will be critical to its success.

Saying he was making no judgment about the foundation’s report, Douglas nonetheless pointed out it was important to tell people the Natural Legacy Project does not involve orchestrating a government land grab.

Tyler Sutton, president of the foundation, said the report makes the case for partnerships between communities, wildlife groups and government agencies to create large-scale grassland reserves. Such reserves would operate in conjunction with livestock agriculture, providing habitat benefits and creating unique natural amenities that would attract eco-tourists and diversify rural economies.

The Arthur County chapter posed a hypothetical scenario as a means to illustrate the potential economic benefits of grassland conservation, he said.

The foundation does not support the concept of government buying land from unwilling sellers to create the reserves.

In other action Wednesday, commissioners:

* Approved a $65.3 million budget for 2006-07, which represents a decrease of almost 8 percent compared to 2005-06.

* Purchased 256 acres of wildlife land in Dawes County for $243,840. The land, which support bighorn sheep and elk, was paid for using funds from hunting/fishing permit sale and federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and hunting equipment. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contributed $25,000 and a wild sheep group gave $2,500.

* Bought land and a metal building in Bassett to serve as a maintenance shed for the commission’s north-central district. They paid $125,000 for the former private trucking business.

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.