Number: 1980-03
WHEREAS, Americans are caretakers of over 100,000 miles of beaches, bays, estuaries, barrier islands and coastal wetlands that include critical fish and wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, in recent years these coastal resources have been threatened by thermal, chemical, and municipal pollution, poorly planned development, offshore oil development, dredging, filling erosion and other acts of man; and
WHEREAS, the nation’s coastal reaches are being developed at a rate more than twice that of the rest of the nation; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation recognizes the importance of conserving our coastal resources, and of distributing information to the public on techniques of coastal resource conservation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 20-23, 1980, in Miami Beach, Fla., hereby supports infrastructure development such as highways and sewers in the coastal zone only when such development is compatible with the conservation of existing resources and designed to minimize the adverse impacts to wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation joins in the declaration of 1980 the “Year of the Coast,” dedicating 1980 to the study, protection, and enhancement of our national coastline.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports the protection of barrier islands as coastal buffer zones and opposes all acts of man that inhibit this purpose.