CALEDONIA, Wis. (AP) - The government would not have to buy any land for a proposed federal wildlife refuge in south-central Wisconsin, under a new proposal offered by conservationists responding to complaints by farmers about the refuge idea.

"We want to find a common ground that will please everybody," said Buddy Huffaker of the Aldo Leopold Foundation.

The government's plan to buy the land for the wildlife refuge has caused "extreme polarization," Huffaker said.  He said farmers are afraid of losing their land and local governments are afraid of losing tax revenue.

The new proposal, announced Friday, would focus on working with landowners to restore wetlands, grasslands and woodlands to provide refuge for wildlife in the area.  It also would include using long-term easements to secure selected areas and incentives for local farmers to use special conservation and production methods on test crops.

The cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the International Crane Foundation would provide a crop damage fund for local farmers who choose to participate in restoring lands for wildlife.

The proposal is an alternative to having the government buy more than 8,000 acres of land outright from landowners for a proposed refuge named after ecologist Aldo Leopold.  Plans for the refuge faced opposition from both the Columbia County and Sauk County board of supervisors, though the Fish and Wildlife Service is not bound by local government opposition.

The state Assembly Thursday approved a resolution asking the federal government to block the establishment of the wildlife refuge.

Fish and Wildlife officials say property owners in the area between Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells will not be forced to participate in the proposed refuge, of which the government now owns just under 10 percent.

Huffaker said the new proposal could be used in conjunction with a wildlife refuge or instead of a refuge.

"We don't want to come out sounding like we support or are against the refuge," Huffaker said.  "We're trying to take a neutral position."

The Fish and Wildlife Service has responded well to the conservationists' plan so far, Huffaker said.