National Conservation Public Service Program

Number: 1975-09

 

WHEREAS, the United States is experiencing a serious economic recession with widespread unemployment, both in inner city areas and in rural regions; and

WHEREAS, there is a large backlog of unfilled projects on federal and other public lands involving wildlife habitat improvement, reforestation, timber stand improvement, trail construction, erosion control, and other environmental enhancement work for which there is an urgent need; and

WHEREAS, the Administration has initiated an urban-oriented Public Service Program designed to alleviate the Nation’s unemployment problems; and

WHEREAS, the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps, existent in the U.S. in the decade of the 1930’s, offers overwhelmingly conclusive evidence of the great environmental benefits which can emanate from a public service program designed to enhance natural resource values on public lands;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual convention assembled March 14-16, 1975, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hereby urges that the Government of the United States expand the current Public Service Program to include a public lands-oriented conservation element designed to perform necessary work and enhance the natural resources values in national forests, parks, wildlife refuges, trails, wild and scenic rivers, national resource lands, and other public properties, including those at state and local levels.