Number: 1979-05
WHEREAS, fresh and saltwater wetlands provide unique and critical habitat for both game and non-game species of wildlife and fish, serving especially as breeding locations for many species of migratory waterfowl; and
WHEREAS, wetlands and their associated fish and wildlife resources provide and contribute to millions of days of recreation annually and support commercial fin-fish and shellfish fisheries of tremendous economic importance; and
WHEREAS, wetlands benefit the general public by naturally treating airborne and waterborne pollutants, by providing natural protection from floods, and by helping to replenish groundwater supplies; and
WHEREAS, wetlands are being converted to other land uses at an alarming rate; and
WHEREAS, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated an accelerated wetlands acquisition program in 1962 to acquire 2.5 million acres of critically needed wetlands; and
WHEREAS, this program has not met its goal due to low levels of funding, opposition by some state and local public officials, rising land costs resulting from inflation, and other factors; and
WHEREAS, these acquisitions are being financed by sales of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps and by advances against receipts from future sales of such stamps; and
WHEREAS, the Congress has provided a system for payment of funds in lieu of taxes to local government bodies;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 22-25, 1979, in Toronto, Ontario, hereby reemphasizes its support of wetlands acquisitions and expresses its strong belief that payback of advances to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund should be postponed until the full program is completed;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization hereby expresses the belief that the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund should be supplemented by general appropriations because the protection of wetlands benefits all citizens; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation expresses its support of the principle that the Fish and Wildlife Service should be authorized to acquire wetlands from willing sellers notwithstanding the opposition of state or local public officials.