Federal Environmental Education Act

April 1, 1978 Resolutions

Number: 1978-37

 

WHEREAS, wise use of natural resources and protection of our environment is a matter of great importance to all Americans; and

WHEREAS, all programs and activities to conserve resources and enhance environmental quality are dependent upon an informed and supportive citizenry; and

WHEREAS, environmental education–both formal school and informal public informational programs–are a means of developing this public awareness as well as the knowledge and skills citizens need to participate in the environmental decision-making process; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Environmental Education Act, which was designed to encourage environmental education programs throughout the nation, is about to expire:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1978, in Phoenix, Ariz., hereby:

1. supports an extension of the Federal Environment Education Act (P.L. 91-516) and urges that adequate funding–a minimum of $15 million per year–be allocated to the Office of Education so that an effective national program can be developed and maintained; recognizes the close relationships of energy and environmental education and recommends that the Environmental Education Act be revised to recognize this relationship; and

2. believes that a cooperative, working relationship between all appropriate federal and state resource management and educational agencies is essential to an effective national program and that the Environmental Education Act should encourage and facilitate such recognition; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation recognizes that the administration of the Environmental Education Act by the Office of Education needs improvement and urges that steps be taken to remedy the situation in these specific areas:

  1. facilitating cooperation on environmental education matters between federal and state governmental agencies, private conservation groups, professional societies, business and industry, educational agencies and others;
  2. organizing and disseminating information and materials on projects funded under the Environmental Education Act where necessary; and
  3. providing effective technical assistance and field services.